Football’s most prestigious individual honours, the Ballon d’Or awards, will be held in London this year instead of their traditional home in Paris, organisers UEFA and France Football announced on Thursday.
The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 and will mark the 70th anniversary of the iconic award. The shift to London represents a historic change for the event, which has been closely linked with Paris for decades. Organisers said the move also carries symbolic significance, as the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956 was won by England legend Stanley Matthews.
This year’s ceremony comes amid a strong run for English football on the European stage. England captain Harry Kane is expected to be among the leading contenders for the men’s prize after a prolific campaign with Bayern Munich. Kane enjoyed the most productive season of his career, scoring heavily across domestic and European competitions.
Reigning men’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele will also be in focus after helping Paris Saint-Germain dominate in Europe once again. Despite injury setbacks during the season, the French forward remained influential in PSG’s run to another Champions League final.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmati is expected to headline the contenders list once more. The Barcelona Femení midfielder has dominated the award in recent years and played a crucial role in another successful campaign for the Spanish club.
The Ballon d’Or winners are chosen by an international panel of journalists, who vote from a shortlist compiled by France Football, L’Equipe and UEFA. Organisers believe staging the anniversary edition in London will give the ceremony a fresh identity while celebrating the award’s rich history and global appeal.
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