The Ballon d’Or will be awarded in London on October 26. With Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz, three Bayern Munich players are on the list of 30 nominees. Kane, in particular, has good reason to hope for the prestigious award following his outstanding season last year.
Statements from several journalists with voting rights now show just how difficult the decision will be this time around. RMC Sport spoke anonymously with members of the Ballon d’Or jury and gained interesting insights into the voting process.
“This year, the situation is more open than usual,” explained one of the jurors. Finding a player who has performed consistently well throughout the entire evaluation period is particularly complicated this time around.
“This year is the hardest yet.”
A major reason for this is the World Cup. Some candidates stood out primarily in club soccer, while others made a big impression during the tournament.
“You have to keep in mind that there are players who shone during the season but didn’t at the World Cup. For others, it’s exactly the opposite. It’s complicated to find a player who shone in both phases of the season.”
Striking a balance between individual performances and team success also plays an important role. “Some players have strong individual performances to show for, but none as part of a team. I haven’t been a member of the jury for very long, but this year is the hardest.”
Apparently, the decision isn’t made at the last minute before voting. The journalists observe the candidates over an extended period and also analyze statistics and specific performances. In addition to the winner, they must rank the candidates from second through tenth place.
Do the stars’ entourages try to exert influence?
Particularly interesting are the comments regarding the public campaigns of some candidates. While Kane recently stated that it’s not in his nature to promote himself aggressively, other contenders come across as much more self-assured in public.
At least one of the judges interviewed by RMC Sport appears unimpressed by the candidates’ media presence. “I’ve only seen a few of these appearances. You shouldn’t rely on social media, which exaggerates both the positives and the criticism. These videos won’t influence me when I announce my top 10.”
Even more controversial: Another voter reported attempts to make contact from the circles of nominated players. “But I pay no attention to that,” the journalist emphasized.
Moreover, these attempts do not necessarily originate directly from the agents. “Most of the time, it’s not the agent directly; they use other channels.”
The report does not specify whether any candidates are behind such contact attempts, nor which ones, if any.