CORNERFLICK
France Football has formally clarified the criteria jurors will use to choose the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner, putting individual performance first.
Individual performance comes first
The magazine says a player's season-long impact is the main factor, with special attention on decisive moments. Goals and assists matter, but they are only part of the picture. Overall quality, influence in major matches and the ability to change results also count.
Team success and conduct follow
The second criterion covers team achievements, including trophies won with club or country and the player's role in reaching them. League titles, the Champions League, domestic cups and success in international competitions can all strengthen a candidate's case.
The third factor is a player's conduct on the pitch, from respect for opponents and referees to fair play and sporting dignity.
France Football has named 30 nominees for the 2026 award, with the winner due to be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October. The order of the criteria underlines the same point: individual brilliance first, then collective success, then behaviour.