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Two new prizes will also be awarded: those for the best coach for men and women, which will be added to the eight existing trophies (Men’s Ballon d’Or, Women’s Ballon d’Or, Kopa Trophy for best young person, Yachine Trophy for best goalkeeper, Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer, men’s club of the year, women’s club of the year and Socrates Prize rewarding players’ societal or charitable initiatives).
“We are very happy with this partnership. It is a trophy created in 1956 by France Football, the same year as the creation of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, so there is a common history between UEFA and the Ballon d’Or”, declared Jean-Étienne Amaury, general director of the Amaury group.
“It’s the meeting between the two best brands in football. On the one hand, +THE+ football trophy is the Ballon d’Or, and on the other hand, UEFA has the best competition in the world” , explained UEFA President Alexander Ceferin, referring to the Champions League.
Created in 1956, the Ballon d’Or first crowned the best European player before rewarding the best player in the world from 2007. Its format has also evolved since since 2022 it has taken into account performances during the sporting season and no longer over a calendar year.
