Desk Report,
This year’s Ballon d’Or is bringing gender equality
The Ballon d’Or, the individual player of the year award for footballers, will be given on September 22 this year at the Theatre du Châtelet in Paris.
This year’s Ballon d’Or is bringing gender equality
The organizers announced today that for the first time, equal awards will be given in the boys’ and girls’ categories. That is, the number of awards will be equal in the boys’ and girls’ categories. The French magazine ‘France Football’ and UEFA, which have been introducing the Ballon d’Or award since 1956, announced that the awards for the best female goalkeeper, the best emerging female player and the highest scorer of female footballers for club and national team have been added in the women’s category. That is, six awards will be given equally in the boys’ and girls’ categories. Apart from this, there is the ‘Socrates Award’ – this award has been given since 2022 for various social and solidarity works, which can be won by anyone from the boys’ and girls’ categories. Senegal forward Sadio Mane won the award in 2022, Brazil winger Vinicius Junior in 2023 and Spain women’s star Henny Hermoso won the award last year. The list of nominees for the Ballon d’Or will be published in early August.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony was marred by controversy. Vinicius’ club Real Madrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony after learning that he would not be awarded the men’s player of the year award. Manchester City defensive midfielder Rodri won the men’s award.
