The Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year Award are two of the most prestigious individual honors in football, but they have distinct origins, voting processes, and affiliations.
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between the two:
Origins and History
Ballon d'Or:
Established in 1956 by the French magazine France Football, the Ballon d'Or was initially awarded to the best European player, but it later expanded to include players from any nationality playing in Europe (in 1995) and then globally (in 2007).From 2010 to 2015, the award merged with FIFA's Player of the Year to form the FIFA Ballon d'Or, but the partnership ended in 2016, and the Ballon d'Or reverted to being awarded by France Football.
FIFA World Player of the Year:
Launched in 1991 by FIFA, the world’s football governing body, to honor the best male player in global football.In 2016, after the end of the Ballon d'Or partnership, FIFA rebranded its award as The Best FIFA Men's Player Award, which runs separately from the Ballon d'Or.
Voting Process
Ballond'Or:
The winner is selected by an international panel of journalists from various countries (top 100-ranked for male and top-50 for female). Each journalist submits a list of their top five players, with points awarded based on rankings.Since 2022, the Ballon d'Or is awarded based on the player’s performance over the European football season (August to July) rather than the calendar year.
The Best FIFA Men's Player Award:
This award involves a broader voting pool, with votes coming from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans. Fans vote through an online platform, contributing to the overall outcome.FIFA’s award also considers performance over the calendar year (January to December).
Affiliations
Ballon d'Or: Organized by France Football and independent of FIFA, though it retains significant influence and prestige in world football.FIFA World Player Award/The Best FIFA Men's Player: Run by FIFA, the global governing body of football, which gives it official recognition and backing.
Award Criteria
Ballon d'Or: Evaluates a player's individual performances, team success, talent, and sportsmanship over the season. There’s also a focus on players’ overall career achievements.The Best FIFA Men's Player Award: Focuses on performances and contributions over the calendar year, but also factors in team success, individual brilliance, and fair play.
Women's Awards
Both the Ballon d'Or Féminin (introduced in 2018) and The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award recognize the top female footballers in the world but follow similar distinctions as their male counterparts.
