Ballon d'Or set for major change in 2024 after UEFA and France Football release statement

UEFA have announced a new partnership with the organisation that runs the Ballon d'Or to co-organise football's individual awards ceremony.

UEFA will now host the prestigious ceremony, which means the UEFA Best Player award will no longer exist.

A statement read: "Together, UEFA and Groupe Amaury aim to enhance the stature and global reach of the awards while fostering a sense of unity and collaboration within the football community."

UEFA will not be involved in the voting as each country's international team captain, manager and a media representative will continue to nominate their top three players of the year.

The partnership commences from 2024, where the awards ceremony will include two new awards - the best men's and women's coach.

The existing awards in the Ballon d'Or Feminin, the Kopa Trophy, the Yashin trophy and the Gerd Muller Trophy will remain.

Lionel Messi on stage with his sons. Image: Getty

Jean-Etienne Amaury, Groupe Amaury CEO, added: "We want to make the Ballon d'Or Awards Ceremony to be the global event that showcases and highlights the talent of top-level footballers in their individual and collective performances, to inspire all talents in football and aim to bring together the passion and enthusiasm of fans from all over the world."

The iconic Ballon d'Or award has been on offer every year since 1956 - except in 2020 due to Covid-19.

Earlier this week, Lionel Messi beat Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to win his eighth Ballon d'Or title.

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.