The 70th Ballon d'Or is shifting its focus to the 2025–26 season
In short: Football's most prestigious individual honour is returning to a seasonal format. As the 2026 ceremony approaches, the criteria for excellence are moving away from the traditional calendar year, refocusing the spotlight on a specific window of competitive performance.
The 202 nghiệm Ballon d'Or, or 'Golden Ball', marks the 70th edition of the annual ceremony hosted by France Football. While the award has historically been tied to the calendar year, the 2026 event marks the fifth time in the trophy's history that the winner will be determined by performance during a specific football season rather than a year-wide period. This shift ensures that the accolades reflect the true rhythm of the competitive cycle, specifically covering the window from 3 August 2025 through to 19 July 2026.
The upcoming ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on 26 October 2026. The nominations reflect a wide breadth of talent across various roles and categories. For the Men's Ballon d'Or, thirty players have been shortlisted, while the Ballon d'Or Féminin features an equal number of thirty nominees. The awards extend beyond the primary trophy to recognise specialised excellence, including the Kopa Trophy for rising stars, with ten men and five women nominated, and the Yashin Trophy, which highlights the world's best goalkeepers with ten men and five women selected.
The prestige of the event is further bolstered by the Johan Cruyff Trophy, which honours coaching excellence. For the 2026 awards, five coaches have been nominated for the Men's version and five for the Women's. By evaluating players based on their club representations during the 2025–26 season, France Football maintains a rigorous standard of individual achievement that aligns with the most intense periods of club competition.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2026 Ballon d'Or
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-2026-ballon-d-or.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in UK & Irish culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
