Ballon d’Or Organisers Clarify Award Criteria Amid ‘Winning 2026 World Cup’ Debate
The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have reiterated that winning the FIFA World Cup alone is no longer enough to secure football’s most prestigious individual honour, as debate intensifies over who deserves the 2026 award.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico, France Football revisited the criteria for the Ballon d’Or, stressing that overall performance throughout the season remains the deciding factor.
In a statement published on Tuesday, the magazine acknowledged the long-standing link between World Cup success and Ballon d’Or triumphs but insisted that the relationship has weakened significantly in recent years.
Historically, several World Cup winners have gone on to lift the Ballon d’Or in the same year, including Bobby Charlton, Paolo Rossi, Lothar Matthäus, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Fabio Cannavaro.
However, recent editions have shown a different trend.
Following Spain’s 2010 FIFA World Cup victory, Lionel Messi claimed the Ballon d’Or despite Spain’s Andrés Iniesta and Xavi starring in the tournament.
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo won the award even though Portugal failed to win the World Cup, finishing ahead of Argentina’s Messi and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had helped his country lift the trophy.
In 2018, Luka Modrić claimed the Ballon d’Or after inspiring Croatia to the World Cup final, despite France winning the tournament.
The World Cup and Ballon d’Or double returned in 2022 when Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory before securing his eighth Ballon d’Or.
According to France Football, only four of the seven players whose countries have won the World Cup since 1995 also went on to win the Ballon d’Or in the same year, highlighting that international success alone is no longer sufficient.
The publication concluded that while a strong World Cup campaign can significantly strengthen a player’s credentials, the award is ultimately determined by performances across the entire season.
“Winning the World Cup helps, but it does not guarantee a Ballon d’Or. To win it, you need to have been the best player of the season, not only of the World Cup,” France Football stated.
The clarification comes as football fans and pundits continue to debate whether the eventual standout performer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup should automatically become the favourite for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
