For some, he couldn’t escape Robert Lewandowski. For others, it was necessary to reward the talent of Karim Benzema. As usual, the defenders of Lionel Messi (2019 winner) and Cristiano Ronaldo were already sharpening their arguments to promote the candidacy of their champion. But the big debate around the Ballon d’Or 2020 will not take place. So decided France Football, which organizes and awards the most prestigious individual award in his sport.
Due to a season largely truncated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the weekly decided not to award its dear Ballon d’Or for the first time since its creation, in 1956. “We did not wish to affix an indelible asterisk on the list of awards such as” trophy won in exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 health crisis “. We will always prefer a small sprain (to our history) to a big scar ”, writes the chief editor, Pascal Ferré, in a text published on the magazine’s website to justify this choice.
For France Football, the conditions are not met in 2020 to decide between the best players, even with a gradual resumption of the season and the prospect of a winner of the Champions League in August in Lisbon.
“Because only two months (January and February), of the eleven generally required to form an opinion and decide between the best, this is far too little to gauge and judge, given that the other matches have taken place – or will take place – then under other conditions and formats (in camera, five replacements, European Final 8 in a single match) too far from the usual panorama ”, develops Pascal Ferré.
This decision also applies to the Women’s Golden Ball (created in 2018), as well as to other prizes distributed, such as the Kopa and Yachine trophies, rewarding respectively the revelation of the year and the best goalkeeper.
