France Football organizes the annual voting process for Ballon d'Or winners

The Ballon d'Or is awarded annually by France Football magazine to identify the top performing football player globally. A selection panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations casts ballots to determine the recipient based on individual performance, team achievements, and fair play. Nominees are curated by staff at France Football and L'Equipe, sometimes with input from former players. The women's category, the Ballon d'Or Feminine, follows a similar voting structure but involves a jury of 50 journalists. While Lionel Messi holds the record for the most men's titles, criteria for the award have shifted over time, moving from a calendar-year focus to evaluating performance over a single full season. The process remains distinct from the FIFA Best player award, which is managed independently.

• 3:47 PMYahoo Sports — How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?
• 3:47 PMBBC Football — How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?