Ballon d’Or: Players Can Win Award Outside Europe, But It’s More Difficult

The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have clarified that footballers do not need to play for European clubs to win the sport's most prestigious individual award, dismissing the long-standing belief that Europe remains a mandatory requirement for victory.

In a statement published on Thursday, the Ballon d’Or addressed one of football's most persistent debates as attention begins to shift toward this year's award following the FIFA World Cup.

"Every year, a refrain comes back around the Ballon d’Or: the winner will more likely represent a European club," the organisers said.

"But has that always been true? We analysed the data to find out."

The organisers explained that although the Ballon d’Or has historically been dominated by players competing in Europe, the eligibility criteria have changed significantly over the years.

When the award was introduced by France Football in 1956, only European players featuring in European leagues were eligible. In 1995, eligibility was expanded to include players of all nationalities, provided they played for clubs in Europe.

However, that restriction was removed in 2007.

"Since 2007, there's been no restriction: the Ballon d’Or rewards the best player in the world, full stop," the statement said.

Despite the expanded eligibility, the award's history still reflects Europe's dominance in world football.

According to the organisers, only one of the last 18 men's Ballon d’Or winners was playing for a club outside Europe at the time he received the award. That player was Lionel Messi, who won the 2023 edition after joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.

The organisers, however, noted that Messi's triumph should be viewed in context. Since 2022, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded based on performances across an entire season rather than a calendar year, meaning much of Messi's award-winning campaign came while he was still with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to the United States.

On the women's side, Megan Rapinoe remains the only Ballon d’Or winner representing a club outside Europe, having claimed the honour in 2019 while playing for Seattle Reign FC.

While acknowledging that European clubs continue to provide the platform for most Ballon d’Or winners, the organisers said the rapid development of leagues outside Europe is gradually changing the global football landscape.

"Yes, it's entirely possible to win the Ballon d’Or without playing for a European club," the statement said.

"It just looks harder in light of history, but the growing strength of certain leagues outside Europe are shaking things up."

The organisers concluded by reiterating that the award is open to every player regardless of the league in which they compete.

"Nothing is impossible when it comes to the Ballon d’Or. Anyone, regardless of their league, can technically claim it."