The clock is ticking for football's elite. With exactly two months remaining until the star-studded ceremony on Monday, October 26, the global football community is turning its attention to London, which will host the historic 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or. France Football and UEFA will present the awards in London, paying homage to 1956 inaugural winner Sir Stanley Matthews in the English capital.

Last Year's Winners

At the previous edition of the awards, France and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé claimed his first Men's Ballon d'Or. In the women's category, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí made history by securing her third consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin trophy following another dominant campaign with Barcelona and Spain.

The Road to October 26

Before the next winners are revealed in London, several crucial steps in the voting process remain. First, France Football and L'Équipe will officially reveal the 30-player shortlists for both the Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or.

Once the nominees are announced, an international jury of specialized journalists will cast their votes. The panel consists of one representative per country from the top 100 nations in the FIFA Men's World Ranking and the top 50 in the Women's World Ranking. Each voter selects their top choices based on three established criteria: individual and decisive performance, collective achievements and trophies won, and class and fair play on and off the pitch. The accumulated points will determine who takes home the prestigious trophies on October 26.