France Football has explained why winning the FIFA World Cup is no longer enough to guarantee the Ballon d’Or.
The organiser of football’s most prestigious individual award said the prize is now judged mainly by a player’s overall performance across the season, not just success at the World Cup.
The clarification comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In a statement on its website, France Football revisited the relationship between World Cup success and Ballon d’Or victories since 1995, when the award was expanded beyond European players.
The magazine noted that, in the past, World Cup winners often went on to win the Ballon d’Or.
England’s Bobby Charlton, Italy’s Paolo Rossi and Germany’s Lothar Matthäus all achieved the feat.
France’s Zinedine Zidane, Brazil’s Ronaldo and Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro also won the Ballon d’Or after helping their countries lift the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2006 respectively.
However, France Football said that pattern has become weaker in recent years.
In 2010, Spain won the World Cup in South Africa, but the Ballon d’Or went to Lionel Messi instead of Spanish stars Andrés Iniesta or Xavi.
Four years later, Cristiano Ronaldo won the award despite Portugal failing to win the World Cup.
He finished ahead of Messi and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had helped his country win the tournament.
A similar case happened in 2018 when Luka Modrić won the Ballon d’Or after leading Croatia to the World Cup final, even though France won the trophy.
The World Cup-Ballon d’Or double returned in 2022 when Messi inspired Argentina to World Cup glory before winning his eighth Ballon d’Or the following year.
According to France Football, only four of the seven players whose countries won the World Cup since 1995 also won the Ballon d’Or in the same year.
The magazine said this represented a success rate of about 57 per cent.
It concluded that while winning the World Cup remains important, it is no longer enough on its own.
“Yes, winning the World Cup helps, but it does not guarantee a Ballon d’Or. To win it, you need to have been the best player of the season, not only of the World Cup,” France Football said.
