New regulations, modified criteria, additional trophies, nominees… The Ballon d’Or, awarded Monday at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris from 8:30 p.m., changes its face for its 66th edition.
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Created in 1956, France Football magazine’s Ballon d’Or has taken a turn this year, with a reform intended to make it “more readable”. After rewarding players for their performances over a calendar year, the trophy now aligns with the sports season calendar and takes into account the entire 2021-2022 financial year.
Also the Men’s League of Nations in October 2021 is included in the jury’s analysis, as is the Women’s Euro in July 2022 for the women’s distinction. But not the start of the 2022-2023 season, which started in August. The award criteria have also undergone an overhaul. The “individual performances” and the “decisive and impressive character of the contenders” will be the number one criterion, ahead of “the collective aspect and the trophies won” and “the player’s class and his sense of fair play”.
The player’s entire career will no longer be taken into account, to avoid the risk of a “preserve”, a fault of the past with 12 coronations shared between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in 13 years. The jury was also reviewed, with a tightening to 100 voters, journalists from the first 100 nations in the Fifa ranking ( once morest 170 previously), and 50 voters for the Women’s Ballon d’Or. A preselection of 30 players and 20 female players was established by a committee, made up of the editorial staff of France Football and L’Equipe, as well as former star Didier Drogba.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (ENG, Liverpool), Karim Benzema (FRA, Real Madrid), Joao Cancelo (POR, Manchester City), Casemiro (BRA, Manchester United), Thibaut Courtois (BEL, Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR, Manchester United), Kevin De Bruyne (BEL, Manchester City), Luis Diaz (COL, FC Porto vs Liverpool), Fabinho (BRA, Liverpool), Phil Foden (ENG, Manchester City), Erling Haaland (NOR, Borussia Dortmund vs Manchester) City), Sébastien Haller (CIV, Ajax Amsterdam puis Borussia Dortmund), Harry Kane (ENG, Tottenham), Joshua Kimmich (GER, Bayern Munich), Rafael Leao (POR, AC Milan), Robert Lewandowski (POL, Bayern Munich puis FC Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (ALG, Manchester City), Mike Maignan (FRA, AC Milan)Sadio Mane (SEN, Liverpool then Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (FRA, Paris SG), Luka Modric (CRO, Real Madrid), Christopher Nkunku (FRA, RB Leipzig), Darwin Nunez (URU, Benfica then Liverpool), Antonio Rüdiger (GER, Chelsea then Real Madrid), Mohamed Salah (EGY, Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (POR, Manchester City), Son Heung-min (KOR, Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (NED, Liverpool), Vinicius Jr. (BRA). , Real Madrid), Dusan Vlahovic (SRB, Fiorentina then Juventus Turin).
Les Bleus goalkeeper Mike Maignan trains before the match between France and Croatia on June 6, 2022.
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Selma Bacha (FRA, Lyon), Aitana Bonmati (ESP, FC Barcelone), Millie Bright (ENG, Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (ENG, Manchester City puis FC Barcelone), Kadidiatou Diani (FRA, Paris SG), Christiane Endler (CHL) , Lyon), Ada Hegerberg (NOR, Lyon), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (FRA, Paris SG), Sam Kerr (AUS, Chelsea), Catarina Macario (USA, Lyon), Beth Mead (ENG, Arsenal), Vivianne Miedema ( NED, Arsenal), Alex Morgan (USA, Pride d’Orlando puis Wave de San Diego), Lena Oberdorf (GER, Wolfsburg), Asisit Oshoala (NGA, FC Barcelone), Alexandra Popp (GER, Wolfsburg), Alexia Putellas (ESP , FC Barcelona), Wendie Renard (FRA, Lyon), Trinity Rodman (USA, Spirit de Washington), Fridolina Rolfö (SWE, FC Barcelona).
In addition to the male and female Ballons d’Or, the gala held at the Théâtre du Châtelet offers other rewards. The Kopa trophy will salute the best young player of the season, aged under 21. Kylian Mbappé won the first edition in 2018, Pedri is the title holder. Among the nominees are Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich). The Yachine trophy will crown the best goalkeeper, with a big favorite to succeed Gianluigi Donnarumma: the Belgian Thibaut Courtois. A new award, the “Socrates Prize”, will be reserved for footballers involved in societal and charitable projects. The top scorer is rewarded with a prize (the Gerd Müller trophy), as is the best club of the season.
