France Football, the Ballon d’Or organisers, have issued a new statement clarifying the award’s criteria.
Later this month, in a ceremony held in London, the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be unveiled.
Thirty players have been shortlisted for the prize, with Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona among them.
French national team coach Laurent Blanc explained Thursday via their X account why the first game of the season do not count.
This year’s trophy will only be given out for achievements between August 3, 2025, and July 19, 2026 (inclusive of all international tournaments), according to the official statutes of France Football.
So, since the new campaign began, all of your goals, assists, and game-winning displays have been meaningless.
The winner will be announced on October 26, after voting was closed last month.