JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Ballon d’Or organizers have rejected suggestions that footballers have to play for European clubs to win the prestigious individual award, insisting that players from any league in the world can claim the honour.
The clarification comes as the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or gains momentum with the FIFA World Cup now nearing its conclusion. In response to the long-standing debate over whether competing outside Europe puts players at a disadvantage, organizers have argued that there are no eligibility restrictions based on the league or continent in which a player plays.
The award has evolved over the years
According to the organisers, the Ballon d’Or has undergone considerable changes since it was established by France Football in 1956.
Initially the award was reserved exclusively for the best European player competing in a European championship. In 1995, the criteria were expanded to include players of all nationalities, provided they played for European clubs.
A further change occurred in 2007, when the award was opened to all footballers in the world, regardless of where they play, effectively eliminating geographical restrictions from the selection process.
Europe continues to dominate the list of winners
Despite the widening of eligibility, Europe remained the dominant destination for Ballon d’Or winners.
An analysis of the last 18 men’s winners shows that almost all winners represented a European club at the time the award was presented. Players such as Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé have all won the award while playing in Europe’s top leagues.
This trend has reinforced the perception that footballers competing outside Europe face a more difficult path to winning the award, even if the rules no longer limit eligibility.
Messi’s triumph in 2023 is an exception
Organizers noted that Lionel Messi became the first men’s Ballon d’Or winner to officially represent a club outside Europe after joining Inter Miami ahead of the 2023 awards ceremony.
However, they explained that the award was mainly judged on his performances with Paris Saint-Germain during the 2022-23 season, as well as his outstanding performances with Argentina at the FIFA World Cup.
From 2022, the Ballon d’Or is awarded on a seasonal basis, from August 1 to July 31, meaning Messi’s move to Major League Soccer came after the period that largely determined the voting.
The women’s award has also seen rare exceptions
In the women’s field, only one player has won the Ballon d’Or while playing outside of Europe.
American star Megan Rapinoe won the prestigious award in 2019 while representing Seattle Reign FC in the United States, making her the only woman to receive the feat from a non-European club.
Her victory remains the only example in the women’s category of a player receiving the award while competing outside of Europe.
Organizers insist every player gets a chance
While acknowledging Europe’s historic dominance, organizers stressed that footballers based outside the continent remain fully eligible to win the Ballon d’Or.
According to them, history may suggest that the award has favored players competing in Europe, but there are no rules that prevent players from other leagues from emerging victorious.
They also noted that the growing strength and competitiveness of non-European leagues could reshape future Ballon d’Or competitions.
No restrictions by league
Organizers have reiterated that eligibility for football’s most prestigious individual award is not determined by where a player competes.
They argued that every footballer, regardless of club or league, has a chance of winning the Ballon d’Or if he is deemed to have produced the best performances during the qualification period.
The statement is expected to reignite discussions over the award as attention increasingly turns to contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup.
