The world football governing body Fifa has announced that it has ceased handing out the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in football after it’s partnership with France Football Magazine expired.
The French publication had been handing out the Ballon d’Or award to the best player in world football since 1956, but partnered with Fifa to merge their and Fifa’s World Player of the Year Award into one Fifa Ballon d’Or award in 2010.
But the partnership has now ran out and not been renewed, meaning Fifa would revert to handing out the Fifa World Player of the Year Award and France Football would hand out the Ballon d’Or.
France Football’s format involves voting from selected top sports journalists to name the best in the world, whilst Fifa’s involves voting from captains and coaches of each of its member teams.
Lionel Messi won four of the six Fifa Ballon d’Or awards handed out, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo won the other two.