Is Ballon d’Or losing its prestige? How can football’s biggest award be overhauled?

The Ballon d’Or has been subject to a lot of valid criticisms in the last few seasons.

The Ballon d’Or has been one of the most important awards in football right from its inception in 1956. Currently, the trophy is awarded by France Football magazine. It is given to the best player in the football season.

The symbolic value of the trophy has increased over the years due to the media attention and hype on social media. However, each edition of the trophy still generates a lot of mixed opinions, debates, and comparisons on social media.

Great players like Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo have got their hands on the trophy and have increased its value. This particular award not only highlights the skills of the player but also talks about the consistency, impact and the player’s prominence in key matches of the season.

In many cases, it has influenced contracts, transfers and status within clubs. Despite criticism or changes in criteria, the Ballon d’Or still continues to be a global benchmark. The trophy increases the player’s reputation and establishes a strong image in the history of football. The Ballon d’Or’s history also reflects the evolution of football, its styles, its idols and the moments that marked entire generations.

Criticisms of the Ballon d’Or

In recent years, the Ballon d’Or has received constant criticism. Many fans and analysts question the selection criteria. Some feel that the award favours marketing and popularity over actual performance.

The clearest example was in 2018, when Luka Modrić won the award. Although he had a good season, many considered that Cristiano Ronaldo or even Antoine Griezmann deserved to win the award over the Croatian for their statistics and titles in that season.

In 2021, Messi won his seventh Ballon d’Or. His performance in the Copa América impacted the decision heavily, but many believed that Robert Lewandowski, for his goal-scoring year at Bayern Munich, should have won it. That edition also left a feeling of injustice, and the award began to seem more political than sporting.

In addition, some players do not even attend the ceremony. That also reflects a certain disconnect with the event. Meanwhile, other individual trophies are gaining ground. FIFA’s The Best, for example, is already a serious competitor.

The lack of clarity in the voting process also fuels scepticism. Real Madrid did not attend the ceremony in 2024, after Vinicius Jr. was ignored in favour of Rodri. Although it remains a symbol of prestige, the Ballon d’Or no longer excites everyone as it once did. Its impact seems to be diminishing as critical voices increase every year.

What changes can help it improve?

The award needs to have changes to get back its credibility. There is a big flaw in the voting process, and that is no fixed criterion is there. Different voters follow different approaches, and there is no unity in the voting process.

Some vote for their favourites, others vote for the ones with more titles, and some vote for the player with the best stats in the season. Hence, there is a clear lack of common ground for the voting process. One solution would be to establish fixed parameters: goals, assists, influence in key matches, and impact on titles.

Moreover, the performance and consistency in different tournaments should be taken into account in the season and not just in one tournament. Biasedness in the name of the popularity of the player should be stopped.

The jury should also be expanded. Today, many journalists vote by name, not by merit. Including former players, coaches, and analysts would increase the quality of the judgment. Another improvement would be to separate the award by position. It is not fair to compare a goalkeeper with a striker, as each role has a different value.

There is a need for more transparency in the voting process. France Football has to show the public and the fans how the jury members vote. Doing this will display their mistakes to the people, and there will be huge pressure on them to think more carefully and make the right choice.

The famous award can continue to remain relevant if the following changes are made, and the award stops living off its prestige.

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