While the Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or grab the biggest headlines each year, the annual gala co-organised by France Football (L’Équipe group) in partnership with UEFA honors excellence across every area of the pitch. From young prodigies and goalkeepers to master tacticians and humanitarian champions, the ceremony presents a comprehensive slate of specialized awards. 

Men’s and Women’s Young Talent of the Year

Formally known as the Kopa Trophy, the Young Talent of the Year awards celebrate the standout players under the age of 21. Nominees are judged on individual performances, team achievements, and fair play over the season cycle. The voting panel for the Young Talent of the Year differs significantly from the main Ballon d’Or and is uniquely prestigious: it is composed exclusively of former Ballon d'Or winners, who each cast a top-three vote (awarding 5, 3, and 1 points).

In the men's category, first 2018 winner Kylian Mbappé was followed by Matthijs de Ligt (2019), Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022), and Jude Bellingham (2023). Spanish phenom Lamine Yamal made history by claiming back-to-back awards in 2024 and 2025. The Women's Young Talent of the Year was newly introduced in 2025, with Barcelona's Vicky López becoming its first-ever recipient ahead of Linda Caicedo and Wieke Kaptein.

Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year

Initially named in honor of Soviet legend Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or (1963), the Goalkeeper of the Year Trophy honors the top shot-stoppers in world football. The jury is the same as the Ballon d’Or trophies: the men's jury comes from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings, while the women's one comes from the top 50.

Past men's winners include Alisson (2019), Thibaut Courtois (2022), and Emiliano Martínez, who claimed it twice in a row in 2023 and 2024. Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma became a two-time winner in 2025 following his earlier 2021 triumph. The Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award debuted in 2025, with Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton securing the inaugural trophy.

Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year

Previously designated as the Johan Cruyff Trophy to pay tribute to the legendary Dutch player and manager, the Coach of the Year awards were introduced in 2024. The jury assesses nominees based on team play quality, titles won, tactical acumen, leadership, the ability to optimize player performance and reveal young talents, and fair play.

The 2024 awards went to Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) for the men and Emma Hayes (Chelsea / United States) for the women. In 2025, Luis Enrique won the Men's Coach of the Year after leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League crown, while Sarina Wiegman captured the Women's Coach of the Year after guiding the England national team to the Women's Euro trophy for the second time in a row.

Men’s and Women’s Striker of the Year

First presented in 2021, the award was initially named the Gerd Müller Trophy to honor the legendary German goalscorer. The Striker of the Year recognizes absolute goalscoring excellence and, unlike the voted prizes, is purely statistical, awarded to the player who scores the highest total number of official goals for both club and country over the season.

Robert Lewandowski won the first two editions (2021 and 2022), followed by Erling Haaland in 2023. In 2024, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé shared the men's award after tying at 52 goals apiece. In 2025, Viktor Gyökeres claimed the Men's Striker of the Year, while Barcelona's Ewa Pajor won the inaugural Women's Striker of the Year after scoring 52 goals.

Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year

Established in 2021 for men's football and expanded in 2023 to include a women's award, the Club of the Year trophies recognize collective excellence, style of play, results exceeding expectations, and titles secured across the campaign. The jury of journalists selects the most deserving club, with ties broken by the total number of Ballon d'Or nominees supplied by each team.

Previous Men's Club of the Year winners include Chelsea (2021), Manchester City (2022, 2023), and Real Madrid (2024), with Paris Saint-Germain capturing the prize in 2025. In the women's category, FC Barcelona won consecutive honors in 2023 and 2024 before Arsenal was crowned Women's Club of the Year in 2025.

Sócrates Award

Introduced in 2022, the Sócrates Award is named after former Brazilian captain and medical doctor Sócrates, who led the Corinthians Democracy movement. It differs from every other accolade at the gala by focusing entirely on humanitarian work, charity projects, and social solidarity initiatives off the pitch rather than athletic achievement. This award is presented by France Football, L'Équipe, and Peace and Sport, a committee that meets to select the projects.

Sadio Mané earned the first edition of the award in 2022 for building hospitals and schools in Senegal, followed by Vinícius Júnior in 2023 for his anti-racism efforts and education charity. Jenni Hermoso was honored in 2024, while the 2025 Sócrates Award was presented to the Xana Foundation for its charitable contributions.

Now, all eyes are on London on 26 October 2026, when we will discover who will claim these prestigious awards and add their names to football's most distinguished trophy roll.