London will host 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony for the first time
London is set to host the Ballon d’Or ceremony for the first time, with organisers announcing the event will take place on October 26, 2026. The occasion will mark the 70th anniversary of the trophy being awarded to England’s Stanley Matthews in 1956. The Ballon d’Or is regarded as the most prestigious individual prize in football, with players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating its history. Last year, Ousmane Dembele won the award at a ceremony in Paris.
Match highlights
- The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26, 2026.
- The event marks 70 years since Stanley Matthews won the first Ballon d’Or in 1956.
- Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or wins: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award five times: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
- The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo is considered one of football’s greatest, with both setting numerous records.
