UEFA will co-organize the Ballon d'Or starting in 2024. The European entity has expressed this agreement today in a statement with Groupe Amaury, owner of the media France Football and L'Équipe. This union will bring two new awards to the program of one of the most prestigious awards in the world, such as coach of the year.
However, the current list of trophies that have accompanied the award in recent editions is maintained: the men's and women's Ballon d'Or, the Kopa Trophy, the Yashin, the Gerd Müller, the Men's and Women's Club Trophy of the season. and the Socrates Prize.
“UEFA and the Ballon d'Or are synonymous with sporting excellence, so our partnership will be a natural blend of prominence and a synergy that promises to be nothing short of exceptional,” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said of the partnership.
For his part, Jean-Étienne Amaury, the CEO of Groupe Amaury, believes that the partnership will consolidate the historical relationship between UEFA and Groupe Amaury, which dates back more than half a century, when L'Équipe contributed to the idea of creating the European Cup.
"We want the Ballon d'Or ceremony to be the global event that showcases and highlights the talent of high-level footballers in their individual and collective performances, to inspire all football talents and aspire to bring together passion and enthusiasm of fans from all over the world," adds Étienne Amaury.
UEFA will provide its “football expertise, market global commercial rights and organize the annual awards gala,” as specified in the statement. As far as the brand is concerned, the Ballon d'Or will maintain Groupe Amaury as a reference and will continue to “supervise the voting system in an unaltered and independent manner.”
Likewise, other objectives sought with this association are to “improve the relevance” and “global reach” of the award and foster “a sense of unity and collaboration within the football community.”
