The 69th Ballon d’Or award ceremony will take place on September 22 in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Now jointly organised by UEFA and Groupe Amaury—the parent company of France Football and L’Équipe—this landmark event continues to celebrate excellence in global football.
Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has stood as the sport’s most prestigious individual prize, recognising players who have delivered extraordinary performances and demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the season.
But for the first time in the event’s history, male and female players will receive an equal number of awards. France Football and UEFA confirmed this change to the format on Monday.
The Ballon d’Or has long been football’s most prestigious individual prize. The move toward equality comes after years of criticism over the lack of recognition for women in the sport.
New Categories Added for Women Footballers
The ceremony will now include three new awards for women. These are the Best Women’s Goalkeeper, Best Young Women’s Player, and Top Women’s Scorer at club or international level.
This brings the total number of awards to six each for men and women. Categories for men already include Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, Best Young Player, and Top Scorer.
In addition to those, the Socrates Award will also be presented. This award celebrates players involved in humanitarian or community work and can be won by any gender.
“We want to celebrate excellence and commitment in both men’s and women’s football,” organisers said in a joint statement.
Nominees to Be Announced in August
The list of nominees for all categories will be released in early August. Fans and football professionals worldwide are already eager to see who will be shortlisted.
In the 2023 edition, controversy arose after Real Madrid boycotted the event. The club pulled out after learning that Vinícius Júnior was not given the Best Men’s Player award. The prize instead went to Rodri of Manchester City.
Many fans expressed disappointment, especially considering Vinícius Júnior’s impressive season and standout performances in the Champions League.
Organisers say they hope this year’s edition will be remembered for fairness, celebration, and football unity across all categories.
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