There will be no Ballon d’Or winner in 2020, with France Football announcing that due to the “lack of sufficient fair conditions” a prize that has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent times will not be awarded for this calendar year.
A prestigious Golden Ball has been handed out to the best player on the planet since 1956.
We are, however, living in extraordinary times and the decision has been taken that it would not be right to pick out a leading performer given the circumstances in which professional sport is currently being played out.
That means 2019 winner Messi will keep his crown for another 12 months.
The Barcelona superstar has six Ballons d’Or to his name, with eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus boasting five.
Two all-time greats would have been expected to come into contention again in 2020, along with the likes of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
Every top performer is, however, going to have to wait for another glitzy ceremony to be held, with United States star Megan Rapinoe also set to keep hold of her title in the women’s game for another year.
France Football said in a statement on their official website: “In exceptional circumstances, exceptional provisions. For the first time in its history, which began in 1956, the Ballon d’Or France Football will not be awarded in 2020, due to the lack of sufficient fair conditions.
“Messi and Rapinoe (as well as[Mattijs] de Ligt and Alisson, winners of the Kopa and Yachine Trophies) will have to wait a year. The winners of the last edition of the BO will have no successors at the end of the year. Because there will be no Ballon d’Or 2020 edition. Why? Continue reading