What Will Happen to UEFA Player of the Year Award After UEFA’s Decision to Co-host Ballon d’Or?

For years France Football has carried the responsibility of handing out the Ballon d’Or. Apart from their short six-year partnership alongside FIFA, the organization has hosted the award individually for the last 62 years. However, things are about to change starting next year. France Football and UEFA made a massive joint announcement today that could change the dynamics of the award. The two organizations will co-host the award starting next year, which raises questions surrounding the future of UEFA individual awards!

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin touched on the brand-new partnership in an official statement. The organization is glad to be part of the prestigious award and hopes to take it to new heights. The latest Ballon d’Or ceremony saw fans raise questions about the award’s validity after Lionel Messi emerged victorious over Erling Haaland. UEFA and France Football have a lot on their plate if they wish to restore the hype surrounding the coveted title.

What’s next for UEFA’s Player of the Year award?

The partnership between the two organizations is enough to change the landscape of awards across soccer. Both parties have handed out prestigious awards individually over the years, but things could change soon. While there has been no official confirmation from UEFA, it seems like the entity could put a hold on their Player of the Year award.

It could be very similar to how things unfolded during the partnership between FIFA and France Football. The two organizations came together back in 2010 to co-host the award. During the six years of the partnership, FIFA put a hold on its awards before introducing FIFA the Best Awards in 2016.

According to the statement issued by UEFA, Groupe Amaury will remain the sole owner of the Ballon d’Or brand. The voting system for the award will remain unchanged, with France Football overseeing the process. Meanwhile, the UEFA will be responsible for marketing global commercial rights and organizing the annual awards gala.

UEFA alongside France Football to co-host the Ballon d’Or

The new partnership is a major move from UEFA’s perspective. For years, the organization has hosted the Champions League, making it the most prestigious title across club competitions. However, despite that, the UEFA has failed to do justice to their awards. But the situation will change starting next year.

Čeferin addressed, “For almost 70 years, the Ballon d’Or® has stood as the most prestigious individual accolade in the world of football and is a testament to the extraordinary skill, dedication, and impact of the game’s legends and their enduring mark on the sport’s history.”

READ MORE: Ballon d’Or vs FIFA The Best: Football History’s Most Important Awards Compared

The president stated, “UEFA and Ballon d’Or® are synonyms of sporting excellence, so our partnership will be a natural blend of prominence and a synergy that promises to be nothing short of exceptional.”

It will be interesting to see what these two organizations have in place for the fans in the coming years. Lionel Messi’s recent win raised queries surrounding the reputation of the award. The two parties have to work their way and earn the fan’s trust, with the players somewhat divided by the recent results.

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