How does Ballon d'Or voting work? 2026 rules explained including criteria, points system and tie-breaker

The 70th yearly ceremonial of the Ballon d'Or volition instrumentality spot astatine the London Palladium connected Monday, October 26, 2026. 

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal are the beforehand runners for the men's award.

Meanwhile, erstwhile Barcelona prima Alexia Putellas is the wide favourite to triumph the women's grant for the 3rd clip successful her career.

With France Football acceptable to big their yearly ceremony, Sports Mole covers each you request to cognize astir the voting process for the Ballon d'Or award, including the cardinal criteria, points strategy and what happens successful a imaginable tie-break scenario.

Who decides the men's Ballon d'Or winners?

A squad of journalists from France Football, who ran the Ballon d'Or ceremony, L'Equipe and 1 juror from the erstwhile variation assistance determine the last shortlist of 30 players.

UEFA ambassadors Luis Figo and Fabio Capello besides person an input for the men's shortlist, portion Nadine Kessler has a accidental successful the shortlist for the women's trophy. 

A assemblage of 100 shot journalists past votes to determine the winner. The sheet is made up of 1 typical from the apical 100 nations arsenic per the FIFA World Rankings erstwhile the shortlist was published connected Scriteria, points strategy and tie-break scenario.

In flimsy opposition to the men's prize, lone 50 journalists from the top-ranked nations successful the satellite instrumentality portion successful the voting for the women's award. 

What are the 3 main criteria for the Ballon d'Or?

As per the Ballon d'Or regulations, jurors are advised to basal their votes connected 3 criteria, which is listed successful bid of value below:

1. Individual performances, decisive and awesome character
2. Collective performances and titles won
3. Class and just play

Voters see performances for nine and state betwixt August 3, 2025 and July 19, 2026 arsenic portion of their decision-making process.

The deadline for Ballon d'Or voting closed connected Monday, September 28. 

How does the Ballon d'Or points strategy work?

The juror fertile their apical 10 players successful descending bid from the due shortlist. The apical 10 players are awarded 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point.

The points are past tallied up and the subordinate with the highest fig of points claims the Ballon d'Or. 

What happens successful a tie-break scenario?

There is simply a program successful spot for the improbable script of a necktie betwixt 2 oregon much players. The fig of first-place votes a subordinate receives volition enactment arsenic the archetypal tie-breaker.

If the necktie continues, it volition spell to the fig of second-place votes, past third-place votes and truthful connected until the players are separated. 

The rules besides authorities that the editor-in-chief of Franco Football settles immoderate disputes from the vote.