16 October 2026 6:16 am WAT
Organisers of the Ballon d’Or, France Football, have issued a fresh clarification ahead of the 2026 awards ceremony.
The winner of the prestigious award will be announced at a ceremony in London later this month.
A total of 30 players have been nominated for the honour, including Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.
In a post via their X account on Thursday, France Football clarified why this season’s start won’t count.
France Football’s official regulations confirm that the 2026 award assesses performances only from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, including international competitions.
This means that every goal, assist, and match-winning display since the new campaign started counts for nothing.
The voting already closed last month, with the winner set to be announced on October 26.
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