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The organizers of the Ballon d’Or grant person said footballers who play anyplace successful the satellite tin triumph the prize.
Their connection clears up a long-running statement implicit whether footballers indispensable play for European clubs to basal a realistic accidental of winning.
With the contention for this year’s Ballon d’Or hotting up arsenic the 2026 World Cup nears its conclusion, the award’s authoritative level examined whether representing a non-European nine is simply a disadvantage.
History would suggest that Europe remains the ascendant pathway to football’s highest idiosyncratic honour.
An investigation of the past 18 men’s Ballon d’Or winners shows that virtually each recipient was playing for a European nine erstwhile crowned.
Winners including Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé each played for European clubs, erstwhile they were announced winners.
The lone objection was successful 2023, erstwhile Messi took it home, aft helium had moved to Inter Miami successful the MLS.
“Yes, it’s wholly imaginable to triumph the Ballon d’Or without playing for a European club,” the organisers said.
“It conscionable looks harder successful airy of history, but the increasing spot of definite leagues extracurricular Europe is shaking things up.”
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