The Ballon d’Or, the prestigious annual Football distinction awarded by the famous France Football magazine, represents a pinnacle of recognition for the world’s best players since its creation in 1956. Initially focused on European footballers, the award has evolved to encompassing talent from around the world, with votes cast by the sport’s elite—journalists, coaches and players—based on their performances and achievements.
However, as the world faces the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, France Football has officially announced the cancellation of the 2020 Ballon d’Or ceremony. This unprecedented decision marks the first time in the prestigious history of the award that no ceremony will be held.
In a carefully worded statement, France Football said: “For the first time since 1956, the Ballon d’Or will take a break. There will be no edition in 2020, as it has become obvious, after extensive deliberations , that the conditions necessary for a fair assessment are not met. We believe that this extraordinary year cannot—and must—not be treated as an ordinary year.
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They continued: “From a sporting point of view, the two months (January and February) outside of the normal eleven months necessary to form a decisive opinion are insufficient. Furthermore, the remaining matches have been played—or will be played— in exceptional circumstances (behind closed doors, with five substitutions, and the Champions League knockout rounds played as single matches).”
Looking towards 2021, France Football remains optimistic, saying: “The Ballon d’Or will once again bring together the great football family and its loyal fans, allowing us to celebrate the joy of awards as we have done in previous years.”
As for the award’s historic powerhouses, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two icons have consistently dominated the Ballon d’Or landscape, with only Luka Modric breaking their stranglehold in 2018. Messi holds the record for most trophies, while Ronaldo has won five. This year, however, both legends won’t get the chance to add to their impressive stats.
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