Ballon d’Or 2026: Voting Criteria, Nominations, and How the Winner is Chosen

How the 2026 Ballon d’Or Voting Jury Works

Unlike public popularity polls or direct selections by clubs and players, the men’s Ballon d’Or winner is decided by a specialized international journalist panel. Records show that exactly one representative journalist from each of the top 100 countries in the men’s FIFA World Ranking participates in the voting process. For the women’s prize, the voting body comprises representatives from the top 50 countries in the women’s FIFA ranking. Each voter is given the official list of 30 nominees to evaluate.

Evaluation Period and the 2026 World Cup Impact

Since a major shift in the award’s format implemented in 2022, voting evaluates a full football season rather than a calendar year. According to tournament regulations, the reference period for the 2026 men’s award runs from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026. This timeframe directly incorporates major international competitions, meaning performances during the 2026 FIFA World Cup form an integral part of the evaluation criteria for the jury members.

The Three Official Voting Criteria

Voters must adhere to three specific criteria established by the organizers, ranked strictly in order of importance:

• Individual performance and decisive nature: The primary criterion evaluates the player’s overall level, consistency, impact, and ability to make decisive plays in crucial moments.
• Collective achievements and trophies: The secondary criterion examines team success, including domestic and international titles won with clubs and national teams. However, rules dictate that collecting the most trophies does not automatically guarantee the award ahead of superior individual play.
• Class and fair play: The final criterion takes into account sportsmanship, on-field behavior, and respect for the game.

Points Distribution and Tie-Breaking Rules

Every participating journalist must select and rank their top 10 players from the 30-man shortlist. The scoring system assigns points in descending order: 15 points for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third, 8 for fourth, 7 for fifth, 5 for sixth, 4 for seventh, 3 for eighth, 2 for ninth, and 1 for tenth. Organization records confirm that the player accumulating the highest total points wins the trophy. In the event of a points tie, the winner is determined by who received the most first-place votes, moving down to second and third-place votes if the tie persists.

Nomination Process and Key Contenders

Before the voting phase begins, the 30-candidate shortlist is compiled through a collaborative process involving the editorial staffs of France Football and L’Équipe, alongside previous-edition jurors and UEFA ambassadors. For the men’s edition, UEFA ambassadors such as Luis Figo and Fabio Capello participate in shaping the list, while Nadine Kessler assists with the women’s shortlist. Among the notable names appearing on candidate lists for the 2026 cycle are Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, and Ousmane Dembélé, according to regional sports coverage.

Next Steps in the Award Timeline

With the 30 candidates announced and the evaluation window closed following the July World Cup final, the international media jury enters the final deliberation phase ahead of the October 26 gala in London. Official updates regarding the final voting tallies and podium placements will be unveiled live during the ceremony.