France Football prepares to award the 2026 Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or remains the premier individual honor in global soccer as the sport approaches the 2026 selection process. Established by the publication France Football in 1956, the award acknowledges the most outstanding male and female players based on seasonal achievements. A panel of international journalists evaluates performance, team success, and conduct to determine the recipients from a list of 30 finalists. Ousmane Dembele enters the cycle as the reigning men's winner following his role in Paris Saint-Germain's second consecutive Champions League title. The voting criteria now emphasize performance within a single season rather than a calendar year to ensure a more accurate assessment of player impact. This 70th edition of the men's award continues a tradition that has recognized legends such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Zinedine Zidane.

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