Ballon d'Or Criteria: World Cup Win No Longer Enough

France Football has clarified that winning the FIFA World Cup is no longer a guaranteed pathway to winning the Ballon d'Or. Historically, players from World Cup-winning nations, such as Bobby Charlton, Paolo Rossi, Lothar Matthäus, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and Fabio Cannavaro, have secured both titles.

However, recent trends indicate a shift; for instance, in 2010, Spain won the World Cup, but Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or instead of Spanish players Andrés Iniesta or Xavi. Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2014 despite Portugal not winning the World Cup, and Luka Modrić won in 2018 after Croatia reached the final but lost to France.

The magazine noted that only four out of seven players from World Cup-winning countries since 1995 have won the Ballon d'Or, resulting in a success rate of 57%. This indicates that while winning the World Cup can aid in securing the Ballon d'Or, it is not a definitive requirement; consistent performance throughout the season is crucial.