The Ballon d’Or has been canceled for the first time since it was introduced in 1956 by France Football. It was canceled due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the football calendar.
The cancellation of the award saw Barcelona star Lionel Messi as the final winner, while US-born female footballer Megan Rapinoe took home the Ballon d’Or Feminin last year.
“There will be no edition in 2020, because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all the conditions are not met. We believe that such a singular year cannot and should not be treated as an ordinary one,” said Pascal Ferre, editor-in-chief of France Football.
However, the organizers will release a list of ‘Dream Team’ squads at the end of this year, where the top 11 players will be selected by the Ballon d’Or jury.
The Ballon d’Or is considered the most prestigious award in the football world and in 2018, the organizers added another trophy, the Ballon d’Or Feminine as a tribute to the talent of female football players.
Also, the other two awards given are the Best Young Player Award and the Best Goalkeeper Award.
Source: ESPN, France Football