What the Ballon d'Or is and how the best player of the year is chosen
August 22, 2026 · 6 min
Every year, when the European season comes to an end, the same question returns: who is the best footballer in the world? The Ballon d'Or is the award that tries to answer it, and here at Golazo Scores we tell you where it comes from, how it is decided and why it sparks so much debate every time the winner is announced.
What it is and where it comes from
The Ballon d'Or is an individual award that recognises the best footballer of the season. It was created in 1956 by the French magazine France Football, and over the decades it became the most prestigious personal honour a player can aspire to.
In its early days only European footballers could win it; it was later opened up to players at European clubs and, since 2007, to any footballer in the world, wherever they play. Over time, women's categories were added too, along with awards for the best goalkeeper and the best young player.
How the winner is chosen
The Ballon d'Or is voted on by specialist journalists from different countries. Each of them draws up a list of their favourites, points are awarded according to the ranking and, once all the votes are added up, the winner emerges. Neither coaches nor fans decide it: it is an award based on journalistic judgement.
Voters look at individual performance, the trophies won with club and country, and the player's impact in decisive moments. That is why winning a major competition tends to carry a lot of weight.
From calendar year to season
For a long time the award assessed what had been achieved over a calendar year, from January to December. That created some odd situations, because a football season is split across two different years.
To fix this, the organisers switched to evaluating the full season, from summer to summer. That way the Ballon d'Or better reflects how the football calendar is actually lived, with its leagues, cups and continental tournaments following one after another.
Why it sparks so much debate
Football is a team sport, and singling out one player always leaves room for argument. Is the player who scores lots of goals worth more than the one who orchestrates the play? Does a league title count for more than a major international competition? There is no mathematical formula, and that is where the controversy begins.
That subjectivity is, deep down, part of the charm. The Ballon d'Or does not settle debates, it starts them: every fan has their own candidate and their own reasons, and that conversation repeats itself season after season.
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