With the 70th France Football Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, attention is turning to the criteria jurors use to select the best male and female footballers of the year. The winners will be announced at the ceremony scheduled for October 26, 2026, in London, with individual performances, team achievements and sportsmanship forming the basis of the voting process.
According to France Football’s official award regulations, the criteria are assessed in a specific order of importance, meaning they do not carry equal weight in the decision. Here are the three criteria used to determine the 2026 Ballon d’Or winners. 1. Individual performances, decisiveness and impressive displays Individual performances rank first among the three Ballon d’Or voting criteria.
Jurors are expected to assess how well each nominee performed individually, including their influence on matches, consistency and ability to make a difference in important moments. This means a player’s overall contribution on the pitch is central to the assessment. Performances that help determine the outcome of matches are particularly relevant under this criterion. 2. Team performances and honours Team achievements rank second in the Ballon d’Or voting criteria.
Jurors consider what nominees have accomplished with their clubs and national teams, including the honours they have won during the relevant period. Success in major competitions can therefore form part of the assessment, although team trophies are not the first criterion listed in the official regulations. The ranking places individual performances ahead of collective achievements when jurors evaluate the nominees. 3. Class and fair play Class and fair play rank third among the criteria.
This criterion considers a player’s conduct and sportsmanship, including how they behave on the pitch and their respect for opponents, teammates, officials and the rules of the game. Although listed third, fair play remains part of the official assessment jurors must consider