Can Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo still win the Ballon d'Or? Organisers clarify rules

The organisers of the Ballon d'Or have confirmed that footballers do not need to play for a European club to be eligible for the prestigious award, meaning stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain in contention despite playing outside Europe.

The clarification was published on the official Ballon d'Or website as debate intensifies over the frontrunners for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following the FIFA World Cup.

According to the organisers, the Ballon d'Or has had no geographical restrictions since 2007, making every professional footballer in the world eligible for the award regardless of the league or continent they represent.

Do players have to play in Europe to win the Ballon d'Or?

The Ballon d'Or organisers addressed one of football's most frequently asked questions: Must a player represent a European club to win the Ballon d'Or?

The answer is no.

The award, created by France Football in 1956, initially recognised only the best European player competing in a European league.

In 1995, eligibility was expanded to include players of all nationalities, provided they played for clubs in Europe.

However, those restrictions were completely removed in 2007.

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Since then, the Ballon d'Or has recognised the best player in the world, regardless of where they play their club football.

Lionel Messi proved it is possible.

The organisers pointed to Lionel Messi's historic Ballon d'Or triumph in 2023 as evidence that players outside Europe can win football's most prestigious individual honour.

When Messi collected his record eighth Ballon d'Or on October 30, 2023, he was already playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, making him the first male player representing a non-European club to win the award.

However, the organisers noted that the achievement should be viewed in context.

Since 2022, the Ballon d'Or has been judged over the football season—from August to July—rather than the calendar year. As a result, Messi's performances for Paris Saint-Germain during the 2022/23 season, combined with his FIFA World Cup-winning campaign with Argentina, played a decisive role in the voting before his move to the United States.

Can Cristiano Ronaldo still win the Ballon d'Or?

The clarification also confirms that Cristiano Ronaldo remains eligible to win another Ballon d'Or while playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Although history shows that most Ballon d'Or winners have represented European clubs—largely because of the visibility and competitiveness of tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League—the organisers stressed that there is no rule requiring players to compete in Europe.

Instead, the award is open to footballers from every league around the world.

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Ballon d'Or winners have mostly come from Europe.

While eligibility is no longer restricted, winning the Ballon d'Or from outside Europe remains uncommon.

Since the award adopted its current global format, nearly every men's winner has represented a European club during the judging period.

The organisers acknowledged that Europe's elite domestic leagues and the UEFA Champions League continue to provide players with greater exposure on football's biggest stages.

However, they also noted that the growing strength of leagues outside Europe is changing the global football landscape.

On the women's side, Megan Rapinoe became the first player representing a non-European club to win the Ballon d'Or in 2019 while playing for Seattle Reign FC.

Who can win the Ballon d'Or?

According to the organisers, any professional footballer can win the Ballon d'Or, regardless of the club or league they represent.

The award is based on performances throughout the season rather than the location of a player's club.

With the 2026 Ballon d'Or race gathering momentum, the clarification means players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other stars competing outside Europe remain fully eligible to claim football's highest individual honour if their performances warrant it.