The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is fast approaching, and the debate over who will take home the awards is heating up.

Amidst the exchange of opinions and performance analyses, a crucial question arises: what happens if the voting ends in an absolute tie for first place?

To clarify matters and ensure an objective standard in the event of a dead heat between candidates, we turn to France Football's official regulations.

Articles 8 and 9 of the official Ballon d'Or rules clearly outline the procedure to follow in the event of a tie for first place:

Article 8

  • In the event of a tie, the deadlock between players will be broken based on the number of first-place votes received. If the tie persists, the number of second-place votes will be considered, followed by third-place votes, and so on.

If, after applying this mathematical breakdown, the tie remains unbroken—or if any extraordinary scenario or discrepancy arises during the vote count—the regulations grant the authority to resolve the matter to the organization's top official:

Article 9

  • Any dispute arising from the voting process will be resolved by the editor-in-chief of France Football in their capacity as the organizer.

Thus, the regulations prioritize the player who has garnered the most support for the top spot among the jury members.

Furthermore, in cases of extreme parity or controversy, the final decision is delegated to France Football's leadership to ensure there is always a definitive winner.

With this question regarding the voting process now resolved, all that remains is to wait until October 26 to discover the winners of the 2026 Ballon d'Or.