Ballon d’Or organisers have responded to the long-running debate over whether footballers must play for European clubs to stand a realistic chance of winning the prestigious award, insisting that while history favours Europe-based players, the prize is open to footballers from any league in the world.
With the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or intensifying as the World Cup nears its conclusion, the award’s official platform examined whether representing a non-European club is a disadvantage, concluding that there are no eligibility restrictions based on where a player competes.
The Ballon d’Or, created by France Football in 1956, initially recognised only the best European player competing in a European league. In 1995, eligibility expanded to include players of all nationalities, provided they played in Europe. Since 2007, however, the award has been open to any player worldwide, regardless of the league they represent.
Despite that change, history suggests that Europe remains the dominant pathway to football’s highest individual honour.
An analysis of the last 18 men’s Ballon d’Or winners shows that virtually every recipient was playing for a European club when crowned. Winners including Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé all represented European clubs at the time of their triumphs.
The only exception came in 2023, when Messi became the first men’s Ballon d’Or winner officially representing a club outside Europe after joining Inter Miami before the award ceremony.
However, Ballon d’Or organisers noted that Messi’s victory requires context because the award has been judged on a seasonal basis—from August 1 to July 31—since 2022.
That meant the jury primarily assessed the Argentine’s performances for Paris Saint-Germain during the 2022-23 campaign before his move to the United States, alongside his World Cup-winning exploits with Argentina.
On the women’s side, only one player has won the Ballon d’Or while representing a non-European club. Megan Rapinoe claimed the award in 2019 while playing for Seattle Reign FC in the United States.
Although the statistics underline Europe’s historical dominance, Ballon d’Or organisers stressed that players outside the continent remain eligible to win the award.
“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 are shaking things up.”
The statement added: “Nothing is impossible when it comes to the Ballon d’Or. Anyone, regardless of their league, can technically claim it.”
