Soccer

Ballon d’Or awards to be co-organised by UEFA from next year

UEFA will co-organise the Ballon d’Or awards from next year (Michel Euler/AP)
UEFA will co-organise the Ballon d’Or awards from next year (Michel Euler/AP) UEFA will co-organise the Ballon d’Or awards from next year (Michel Euler/AP)
By Jamie Gardner, PA Chief Sports Reporter

The prestigious Ballon d’Or awards will be co-organised by UEFA from next year.

European football’s governing body has reached an agreement with Group Amaury, the owner of media companies France Football and L’Equipe, to “enhance the stature and global reach of the awards”.

Argentinian star Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or title earlier this week after steering his country to World Cup glory last year, with Spanish World Cup star Aitana Bonmati winning the women’s prize.

The merging of the awards means an end to the UEFA awards handed out in August each year, with the exception of the President’s Award which will still be presented alongside the draws for the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

There will also still be accolades for the best player in each of UEFA’s club competitions, which are determined by its technical study group and announced within days of each competition’s final.

Under the new partnership, UEFA said all existing Ballon d’Or awards will remain in place with the addition of men’s and women’s coach of the year prizes.