Ballon d’Or splits from FIFA; players and managers to lose their voting rights

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 20/09/2016 at 11:34 GMT

French magazine France Football has announced changes to its Ballon d'Or award after it ended their six-year association with FIFA, with players and managers no longer to get a vote.

The partnership was formed in 2009 when the Ballon d'Or combined with the FIFA World Player of the Year award, and since its inception it has been shared by Barcelona's Lionel Messi (four wins) and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (two wins).

Before that the Ballon d'Or was given to the best European player until in 1995 when it became the best player who was playing for a European club.

One thing hasn't changed, however: the level of prestige that the award carries. It has long been considered by far the greatest individual accolade in football.

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FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi of Argentina holds the World Player of the Year award during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2015 ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, January 11, 201

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In an article on their website France Football have announced the voting panel will now entirely comprise of journalists, just as it did until 2008.

After the awards were merged, national team captains and managers also took part in the voting.

The shortlist will be increased from 23 to 30 players and there will be no reducing of the shortlist to three players as has become customary.

They also confirmed that they want to announce the winner before the end of the calendar year, rather than in January.

There has been no official confirmation from FIFA yet about whether they will have their own award - but they will almost certainly set up a rival prize.

FIFA ran their own award, the FIFA World Player of the Year, between 1991 and 2008 prior to the merger with the Ballon d'Or.

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