The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony will return on September 22, 2024, with a historic update: for the first time, an equal number of awards will be presented to both male and female footballers, organisers confirmed on Monday.
The event will be held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and co-organised by France Football magazine and UEFA. This year’s edition introduces new categories such as Best Women’s Goalkeeper, Best Young Women’s Player, and Top Women’s Scorer in club or international competitions.
These additions bring the total number of awards to six each for men and women, alongside the Socrates Award, which honours humanitarian or solidarity efforts by any player, regardless of gender.
Nominees across all categories will be announced in early August.
The 2023 edition drew controversy when Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony after Vinicius Junior was overlooked for Best Men’s Player, with the award going to Manchester City’s Rodri instead.
The 2024 ceremony is expected to be more inclusive and celebratory, reflecting a major step forward in how footballing excellence is recognised around the world.
