Who will succeed Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas on the Ballon d’Or list? The answer will be known on October 17, when the prestigious trophy will be presented. This Tuesday, France Football, organizer of the ceremony, revealed that the 66th edition of the individual award will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris (like the ceremony in 2021). Recall that the Argentine had won his 7th Ballon d’Or on 29 November, while the Barça player had known the consecration at 27 by becoming the first Spaniard to win the Ballon d’Or since Luis Suarez in 1960.
A renewed edition, Benzema big favorite to succeed Messi
The nomination lists for the male and female Ballon d’Ors, as well as the Kopa Trophy for the best young player and the Yachine Trophy for the best goalkeeper will be unveiled on August 12, France Football said. Barça midfielder Pedri and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma won the awards last year.
SAVE THE DATE AND SEE YOU IN OCTOBER! 🌕📅
📍 @teatrochatelet – Paris#Golden Ball pic.twitter.com/k3LtGP5caL
– Golden Ball #ballondor (@francefootball) May 24, 2022
The Golden Ball will experience a renewed edition: from now on, it will cover the sporting season and not the calendar year, and will include a smaller jury, a refined pre-selection and clearer award criteria. Therefore, the “individual performance” and the “decisive and imposing character of the contenders” will be the number 1 criterion, ahead of “the collective aspect and the trophies won” and “the player’s class and his sense of fair play”., according to the new regulations. Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema remains the big favorite to succeed Lionel Messi on the list. Before the Champions League final against Liverpool this Saturday at the Stade de France, the striker had scored 44 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 games in all competitions.
