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As the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony approaches, one of the most common questions among fans revolves around the exact period taken into account to evaluate the nominees' performance.
In that regard, the award is governed by a strict timeframe established by France Football in its capacity as the organizing entity of the award.
Therefore, in this article, we will review the official regulations to understand the actual evaluation period for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
Additionally, we will discover which international tournaments will be taken into account for the final count.
What is the official evaluation period?
The reference period covers the entirety of last season, from August 3, 2025 to July 19, 2026.
It includes international competitions (World Cup and AFCON for men; Asian Cup and the Nations League final phase for women).
The Women's AFCON, which ended on August 16, will count toward the current season (It will be considered for the 2027 Ballon d'Or).
And what are the criteria to define the winner?
According to the official regulations, the Ballon d'Or is awarded based on three criteria, in order of importance:
- Individual performances, of a decisive and impressive nature.
- Team performances and titles won.
- Class and fair play.
With all this information, all that remains is to wait until October 26 to find out who the winners of the Ballon d'Or awards will be.
