Ballon d'Or Awards Relocate to London for 2026 Ceremony
The prestigious Ballon d'Or awards ceremony will be held in London for the first time in October 2026, relocating from its longtime Paris location. This change coincides with the 70th anniversary of the inaugural award, won by Stanley Matthews, and highlights significant events in English soccer.
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The Ballon d'Or awards, which celebrate the top soccer players globally, are set to take place in London in October 2026, marking a shift from their longstanding venue in Paris. This change commemorates the 70th anniversary of England's Stanley Matthews winning the first accolade.
The decision to move the ceremony, slated for October 26, is announced by co-organizers France Football magazine and UEFA. London is particularly significant for its vibrant soccer scene, being home to landmarks such as Harry Kane, England's leading scorer, and the Arsenal team, which recently claimed its first Premier League title in over two decades and competes against Paris Saint-Germain in the upcoming Champions League final.
Kane's impressive tally of 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich stood out, including his remarkable 14 goals in the Champions League, though PSG halted Bayern in the semifinals. Meanwhile, last year's men's Ballon d'Or went to Ousmane Dembélé following PSG's historic Champions League win.
Aitana Bonmatí, the reigning champion of the past three women's Ballon d'Or titles, suffered an injury-plagued season but made a significant comeback, contributing to Barcelona's quadruple-winning campaign, including a Champions League success against OL Lyonnes. The Ballon d'Or winners are determined by a broad panel of journalists selecting from a shortlist curated by France Football and UEFA.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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