Ballon d’Or 2024 Set for September 22 with Equal Awards for Men, Women

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, marking a historic shift toward gender equality in football recognition.

For the first time, an equal number of awards will be presented to both male and female players, organisers announced on Monday. The event is jointly hosted by France Football magazine and UEFA.

This year’s edition introduces new categories for women, including Best Women’s Goalkeeper, Best Young Women’s Player, and Top Women’s Scorer in club or national competitions. These additions bring the total to six awards each for men and women, alongside the Socrates Award, which honours humanitarian contributions by any player, regardless of gender.

Nominees across all categories are expected to be revealed in early August.

The 2023 edition was clouded by controversy after Real Madrid boycotted the event in protest over Vinicius Junior missing out on the Best Men’s Player title, which was awarded to Manchester City’s Rodri instead.

This year’s ceremony is anticipated to be more inclusive and celebratory, reflecting a growing commitment to equal recognition of football excellence worldwide.