By Victor Kanayo
Beginning from 2024, UEFA and the Amaury group, owner of L’Equipe and France Football magazine will partner to organise the Ballon d’Or.
Disclosing this on Friday, the Amaury group which created the Ballon d’Or, said it will remain the owner of the Ballon d’Or and continue to oversee the vote, while UEFA will take charge of marketing commercial rights and help organise the annual awards gala.
Amaury Statement
Managing Director of the Amaury group Jean-Etienne Amaury in a statement said, “We are very happy with this partnership to co-organise the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
“It’s a trophy created in 1956 by France Football, the same year of the creation of the European Champions Clubs’ Cup, so there’s a common history between UEFA and the Ballon d’Or.
“The ceremony has taken on a global scale over the past 15 years with worldwide media coverage.
“So the partnership with UEFA makes perfect sense since it is one of the major players in this sport.”
Amaury said the annual ceremony takes place in Paris, but there is the possibility it could move to other big European cities after 2024.
The group also revealed that two new prizes will be also awarded in 2024, for the men’s and women’s coach of the year.
UEFA Boasts
On his part, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said, “It’s the meeting of the two best brands in football. On one side, the trophy in football is the Ballon d’Or, and on the other side, UEFA has the best competition in the world.
“So there was a sense in doing something together. All players dream of winning a UEFA competition and the Ballon d’Or.”
History-making Set-up
First awarded in 1956, the Ballon d’Or crowned the best European footballer each season before it was expanded in 1995 to include players of all origins based in Europe.
It became a global prize in 2007 with all players from across the world being eligible. A recent change means the award is now based on a player’s record over the previous season, rather than over the course of the calendar year.
Few days ago, Lionel Messi won the accolade for a record-extending eighth time on Monday after he inspired Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup. Aitana Bonmati won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for her starring role for club and country, winning the Champions League with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain.
