France Football, the organiser of the Ballon d’Or, has issued a further clarification on the scope of the 2026 prize. The winner will be revealed at a London ceremony later this month, following a vote involving 30 nominees including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe. In a Thursday post on X, France Football explained why performances at the opening of the current season are excluded. Its official rules state that the 2026 award covers displays between August 3, 2025 and July 19, 2026, including international tournaments. As a result, goals, assists and decisive performances recorded since the latest campaign began will not affect the result. Voting concluded last month, and the recipient is due to be named on October 26.
