Ballon d’Or 2026: the selection criteria for the next winner revealed

Ballon d’Or organizers have set out the rules that will decide the contenders for the prestigious trophy. The 70th edition ceremony will take place on October 26, with a race that already looks especially close. Two months before the event, the outline of the next Ballon d’Or is becoming clearer. The organizers have revealed the main elements that will guide the choice of the future winner as the competition appears wide open.

Once the various nominee lists are published, the candidates will be separated by an international jury made up of specialist journalists. The system is based on geographic representation to ensure a worldwide vote. The electoral college will include one journalist from each of the top 100 countries in the men’s FIFA rankings. For the women’s Ballon d’Or, the system will cover representatives from the top 50 nations in the world rankings.

This setup will give significant weight not only to performances over the season, but also to the judgment of the journalists asked to vote. With several major stars already among the announced or expected contenders, the suspense remains wide open ahead of the winner’s unveiling. The successor to the previous winner will be officially crowned on October 26 at the ceremony.