EXPLAINER: Breaking down the criteria for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, tell me about this news in (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/EXPLAINER-Breaking-down-the-criteria-for-the-2026-Ballon-d-Or-2052418)

The report breaks down how the winner of the Ballon d’Or is decided under the established voting framework managed by France Football in partnership with UEFA.Here are the key points and criteria highlighted in the explainer:1. The Core Criteria (Ranked in Order of Priority)According to official regulations, voters must evaluate nominees based on three strict criteria in order of importance:

1. Individual Performance, Decisiveness, and Impressive Character (Primary Factor):
   • This is the single most important factor. Voters look at individual excellence, consistency, and how decisive a player was in critical moments (e.g., goals, assists, defensive contributions, and influence on the match).
   • Unlike older formats where team trophies sometimes overshadowed personal form, the current rules emphasize that a player’s individual mastery on the pitch comes first.
2. Collective Performance and Achievements (Team Trophies):
   • Success with both club and national teams.
   • Winning major titlessuch as the UEFA Champions League, domestic league titles, or major international tournamentsserves as a major supporting factor, provided the player played a significant role in those triumphs.
3. Class and Fair Play:
   • On-field and off-field conduct, sportsmanship, discipline, and respect for the game.
   • Notably, a player’s historical career achievements or past legacy are excluded from the criteria to prevent reputation-based voting and ensure evaluation is strictly confined to the season under review.

2. The Evaluation Period

• Season-Based, Not Calendar Year: The evaluation timeline covers the full football season (from August 1 of the prior year to July 31 of the award year), including major summer international tournaments, rather than the traditional January–December calendar year.

3. The Voting Panel and Procedure

• Restricted Specialized Jury: To improve voting quality and reduce bias, the voting pool for the Men’s Ballon d’Or is restricted to one specialized journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking (and top 50 nations for the Women’s Ballon d’Or).
• Point System: Each journalist chooses and ranks players from the official 30-player shortlist drawn up by France Football and editorial contributors. Points are awarded in descending order according to their ranking, and the player with the highest total aggregate points is declared the winner.