The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious individual awards in world football. Every year, fans debate which player deserves the trophy, comparing goals, assists, consistency, major victories, and performances in decisive matches. However, the final result is not determined by public opinion or statistics alone. France Football uses an established voting process involving an international jury of specialist journalists.

Understanding how the award works helps explain why the final ballon d’or rankings can sometimes surprise fans. For those who want to get involved in the excitement of choosing the season’s best player, it’s also possible to bet on the Ballon d’Or winner at twincasinologin.com.

What Is the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award organised by France Football magazine. It recognises the best male and female players in the world, regardless of their nationality or the domestic league in which they compete.

The award considers performances across an entire reference period rather than focusing on a single match or tournament. Players can strengthen their candidacy through consistent displays for their clubs, contributions to national teams, individual statistics, and performances in important competitions.

The ceremony is co-organised by France Football and UEFA. Although the event attracts worldwide attention, the winners are determined through a structured process rather than a public popularity vote.

Official regulations are available on the Ballon d’Or website.

How France Football Selects the Nominees

The first major step is creating a shortlist of candidates. For the main men’s and women’s awards, France Football publishes a list of 30 nominees in each category.

The selection process involves several contributors:

• France Football’s editorial team: Journalists assess players’ performances throughout the season and identify potential candidates.
• L’Équipe editorial staff: Members of the French sports newspaper’s editorial team contribute to the selection process.
• A representative from the previous jury: At least one member of the previous edition’s voting panel helps with the nomination process.
• UEFA ambassadors: Luís Figo and Fabio Capello contribute to the men’s shortlist, while Nadine Kessler contributes to the women’s shortlist.

The shortlist is based on sporting merit rather than a player’s nationality, club, or commercial popularity. Performances across domestic leagues, continental competitions, and international tournaments can all influence the selection.

Being nominated is an important achievement, but it does not guarantee a strong final position. Once the shortlist is published, the international jury begins the voting process that determines the winner.

Who Votes for the Ballon d’Or?

France Football relies on an international jury of specialist football journalists. The number of voters differs between the men’s and women’s awards.

The voting panel is made up of:

• 100 journalists for the men’s Ballon d’Or: One representative from each of the countries ranked in the top 100 of the relevant FIFA ranking.
• 50 journalists for the women’s Ballon d’Or: One representative from each of the countries ranked in the top 50 of the relevant FIFA ranking.

The applicable FIFA rankings are those in effect when the nominee lists are published. For the 2026 edition, the reference ranking was the one dated September 8, 2026.

This international structure allows journalists from different football cultures to evaluate the candidates. Each voter brings professional knowledge and a perspective shaped by watching domestic leagues, international matches, and major competitions.

The jury does not simply choose the most famous player. Every journalist must rank ten nominees according to their assessment of the season.

The Three Main Ballon d’Or Voting Criteria

France Football establishes three criteria that guide the jury. They are applied in a specific order of importance, meaning that individual performances come first.

1. Individual Performances and Decisive Impact

The primary criterion is a player’s individual performance, including how decisive and impressive they have been.

Journalists can consider several aspects:

• Goals scored and assists provided.
• Consistency across the season.
• Technical ability and influence on matches.
• Performances in high-pressure situations.
• Contributions in finals and other decisive fixtures.
• The ability to make a difference against strong opposition.

Statistics can help explain a player’s season, but they do not tell the whole story. A midfielder may influence matches through passing, pressing, and controlling the tempo, while a defender can stand out through positioning, tackles, leadership, and defensive organisation.

The jury must evaluate the overall quality and impact of a player’s performances, rather than relying on one statistic.

2. Team Performances and Trophies

The second criterion concerns collective achievements and the honours won during the reference period.

Winning a major trophy can strengthen a candidate’s case, especially when the player has made a decisive contribution to the team’s success. Important achievements may include domestic league titles, domestic cups, continental competitions, and international tournaments.

However, team success is not an automatic guarantee of winning the Ballon d’Or. Journalists also need to assess the nominee’s individual contribution. A player who was central to a team’s success may have a stronger case than a teammate who played a less influential role.

This criterion helps voters consider how individual excellence translates into meaningful results for a club or national team.

3. Class and Fair Play

The third criterion is a player’s class and fair play.

This means that the assessment is not limited to technical ability, goals, or trophies. Sportsmanship and conduct also form part of the official framework.

Fair play includes respect for opponents, officials, teammates, and the principles of the game. The criterion recognises that the award celebrates footballers not only for what they achieve on the pitch but also for how they approach competition.

Although this is the third criterion in the official order, it remains part of the voting rules and should be considered alongside the other factors.

How the Ballon d’Or Points System Works

After the 30 nominees are announced, every jury member selects ten players and ranks them from first to tenth place.

The points awarded to each position are:

• 1st place: 15 points.
• 2nd place: 12 points.
• 3rd place: 10 points.
• 4th place: 8 points.
• 5th place: 7 points.
• 6th place: 5 points.
• 7th place: 4 points.
• 8th place: 3 points.
• 9th place: 2 points.
• 10th place: 1 point.

Players outside a journalist’s top ten receive no points from that particular ballot.

Once all ballots have been counted, the points from every eligible voter are added together. The player with the highest total wins the award.

This system rewards both the number of votes a player receives and the position they occupy on each ballot. For example, a player consistently ranked first or second can accumulate a substantial total, while another player may earn fewer points despite appearing on many ballots in lower positions.

The same basic points structure applies to the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or.

What Happens If Two Players Finish With the Same Score?

A tie is possible if two or more nominees finish with an equal number of points. France Football has a specific procedure for resolving this situation.

The tie-break rules are applied in the following order:

1. First-place votes: The player with more first-place selections wins the tie.
2. Second-place votes: If the players remain level, the number of second-place selections is compared.
3. Third-place votes: If necessary, third-place selections are counted.
4. Further positions: The comparison continues through the remaining positions until the tie is resolved.

If a dispute remains after applying the voting rules, the editor-in-chief of France Football has the authority to resolve it under the official regulations.

These rules make the outcome more transparent by establishing how equal totals must be handled.

How the Voting Process Shapes the Final Ballon d’Or Rankings

The final ballon d’or rankings reflect the combined judgment of the international jury. They are not simply a leaderboard based on goals, assists, or the number of trophies won.

Several factors can influence a player’s final position:

• Consistency: Strong performances throughout the reference period can build a convincing case.
• Decisive moments: Goals, assists, saves, or defensive actions in important matches can influence how journalists evaluate a season.
• Individual quality: The first voting criterion places particular emphasis on personal performances and impact.
• Team achievements: Winning major competitions can strengthen a candidate’s profile.
• Sportsmanship: Class and fair play are also included in the official assessment.

Because voters come from different countries and football backgrounds, they may not always agree on which player had the best season. The points system converts these individual judgments into a single overall result.

This is why debates over the Ballon d’Or continue even after the ceremony. Fans may favour one player’s statistics or trophies, while journalists may give greater weight to another candidate’s consistency or decisive performances.

Ballon d’Or Winners and the Award’s History

Looking at past ballon d’or winners helps illustrate how the award has evolved. First presented in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has recognised many of football’s most influential players.

Lionel Messi holds the record for the most men’s Ballon d’Or victories, with eight awards. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the trophy five times. Their achievements demonstrate how sustained excellence across multiple seasons can lead to repeated recognition.

The first winner was English footballer Stanley Matthews, who received the inaugural award in 1956. Since then, the prize has become an internationally recognised symbol of individual achievement in football.

The award has also changed over time. Its eligibility rules and reference periods have evolved, and the women’s Ballon d’Or was introduced in 2018. These developments reflect the growing global reach of the sport and the award’s aim of recognising outstanding players across football.

Another notable distinction is the Super Ballon d’Or. Unlike the regular annual award, it has been presented only once, in 1989, when Alfredo Di Stéfano received it in recognition of his exceptional career. It is therefore a separate historical distinction rather than a standard part of the annual Ballon d’Or voting process.

Why the Ballon d’Or Selection Process Matters

The Ballon d’Or attracts debate because football excellence can be measured in different ways. Some fans focus on scoring records, others prioritise trophies, and many value performances in decisive matches.

France Football’s rules provide a consistent framework for comparing candidates. The process includes a shortlist of 30 nominees, an international jury of specialist journalists, three ordered evaluation criteria, and a points-based ballot.

The system does not eliminate subjective judgment. Instead, it organises that judgment through published rules that explain who votes, what voters should consider, and how the final result is calculated.

For anyone following the ballon d’or, understanding the process offers a clearer view of why one player wins over another. The final decision is based on the total points awarded by the jury, with individual performances carrying the greatest weight, followed by team achievements and fair play.

Ultimately, the Ballon d’Or combines sporting evidence with expert evaluation. Its voting process helps transform a season of outstanding football into a final ranking that recognises the players who made the strongest overall impression.