The organizers of the Ballon d’Or have clarified that footballers can win the prestigious individual award regardless of where they play their club football.
The latest clarification settles the long-standing discussion over whether players must feature for European clubs to stand a genuine chance of claiming the coveted prize.
As anticipation builds ahead of the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ballon d’Or’s official platform revisited the debate over whether competing outside Europe limits a player’s chances of lifting the award.
Historically, Europe has remained the dominant destination for most Ballon d’Or winners.
A review of the previous 18 recipients of the men’s Ballon d’Or shows that nearly all of them were representing European clubs at the time they received the honour.
Football stars including Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Rodri, and Ousmane Dembélé were all attached to European clubs when they won the award.
The only notable exception came in 2023 when Messi claimed the Ballon d’Or after completing his move to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
“Yes, it’s entirely possible to win the Ballon d’Or without playing for a European club,” the organisers said.
“It just looks harder in light of history, but the growing strength of certain leagues outside Europe is shaking things up.”
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