The Ballon d’Or has dismissed the long-held belief that footballers must play for a European club to win the sport’s most prestigious individual honour, insisting there is no such requirement under the current rules.
In a statement published on Thursday, the award’s organisers addressed one of the most common debates surrounding the prize as attention shifts toward this year’s winner following the FIFA World Cup.
“Every year, a refrain comes back around the Ballon d’Or: the winner will more likely represent a European club,” the statement read.
“But has that always been true? We analysed the data to find out.”
The organisers explained that although the award’s history has been closely tied to European football, eligibility has evolved significantly over the decades.
