The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have clarified that footballers can win the prestigious individual award regardless of the league or continent in which they play.
The statement addresses a long-standing debate over whether players must represent European clubs to have a realistic chance of claiming football’s highest individual honour.
The clarification comes as the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or intensifies alongside the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The award’s official platform examined whether playing for a club outside Europe places footballers at a disadvantage.
Europe remains the dominant pathway
While organisers stressed that eligibility is not restricted by geography, they acknowledged that history has largely favoured players based in Europe.
An analysis of the last 18 men’s Ballon d’Or winners showed that almost every recipient was playing for a European club at the time of receiving the award.
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Past winners, including Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé, were all representing European clubs when they were crowned.
The only exception came in 2023, when Messi won the award after completing his move to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
Organisers’ position
On the issue, the organisers said, “Yes, it’s entirely possible to win the Ballon d’Or without playing for a European club.
“It just looks harder in light of history, but the growing strength of certain leagues outside Europe is shaking things up.”
The statement reflects the increasing competitiveness of leagues beyond Europe as more elite players continue their careers in North America, Asia and the Middle East while remaining eligible for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
