Ballon d'Or Confirms Eligibility for Non-European Players

The organizers of the Ballon d'Or have confirmed that players from leagues outside Europe are eligible for the prestigious award, addressing long-standing debates regarding fairness. Historically, the award was limited to the best European players until 1995, when criteria expanded to include players from clubs in Europe.

In 2007, the award became open to all footballers worldwide, removing geographical restrictions. Despite this, European players have dominated the award, with nearly all recent winners representing European clubs.

Lionel Messi became the first men's Ballon d'Or winner to officially represent a club outside Europe when he joined Inter Miami in 2023, although his award was primarily based on his performance with Paris Saint-Germain during the 2022-23 season and his outstanding display at the FIFA World Cup 2022. The eligibility criteria for the award remain unchanged, allowing players from emerging leagues to compete for the honor, with discussions expected to intensify as the 2026 Ballon d'Or approaches.