'You can win Ballon d'Or without winning a trophy'
Ballon d'Or organizers have clarified that players can win the prestigious award without winning a team trophy, a feat achieved only six times in history. The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 ceremony as debate persists regarding the criteria for the honor.
Why it matters
This clarifies the subjective criteria for one of the most significant individual awards in global sports, impacting how players are evaluated.
Layer 1 The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have confirmed that players can win football’s most prestigious individual prize without lifting a team trophy during the season, although the feat has been achieved only six times in the award’s history.
Ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London, organisers in an article on Monday revisited the history of the award as debate continues over the credentials required to claim the honour.
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