The 2026 Ballon d’Or is nearing its final stage, with anticipation building around the leading contenders. Discussions have focused on their performances, trophies, and individual achievements. However, a rarely discussed question is what happens if two or more players finish level on points in the Ballon d’Or voting. According to France Football’s official regulations, a clear procedure is in place to determine the winner in the event of a tie.
The official regulations, specifically Articles 8 and 9, explain how a tie for first place is decided. The first method used to break a tie is to compare the number of first-place votes received by the players involved. The player with more first-place votes is separated from the other tied candidates. If the players remain level after their first-place votes are compared, the regulations move to the number of second-place votes.
If the tie persists, third-place votes are considered, followed by fourth-place votes and so on until the deadlock is resolved. This means the Ballon d’Or voting system has a built-in mechanism designed to identify a single winner even when the overall points total is identical. The regulations establish a sequence based on the ranking positions awarded by voters, ensuring the voting process has a defined route to determine the winner in the event of a dead heat.
In the event of a dispute or unusual situation during the voting process, Article 9 states that any dispute relating to the voting process is to be resolved by the editor-in-chief of France Football, acting in their capacity as organizer of the award. This gives France Football's leadership the final authority to settle any unresolved issue connected to the vote.
The tie-break procedure is particularly important because Ballon d’Or voting involves a large international jury, making an exact tie theoretically possible. Rather than relying on a subjective decision, the regulations provide a clear and transparent process for determining the winner. The system first examines first-place votes before moving progressively through the lower positions if necessary.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place on October 26, 2026, when the winners of the 2026 Ballon d’Or and other individual awards will be revealed. Until then, the debate over the leading contenders will continue, but one thing is clear: France Football's regulations already outline what happens if the vote finishes level at the top.
For players dreaming of lifting the Ballon d’Or, the objective remains the same—secure enough support from the jury to finish ahead of the competition when the votes are counted. The regulations ensure that the winner is determined in a fair and transparent manner, giving the award its prestige and credibility.
Key points
- The Ballon d’Or voting system has a built-in mechanism to determine a single winner in the event of a tie.
- The tie-break procedure involves comparing the number of first-place votes, followed by second-place votes, third-place votes, and so on.
- Any dispute relating to the voting process is to be resolved by the editor-in-chief of France Football.
