Ballon d’Or was created in 2010 after a merger between the French Golden Ball Football Association and FIFA World Player.
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However, this year’s award could be the last of its kind, with France Football taking back complete control and moving the host city from Zurich.
The next recipient will be determined by a vote of journalists – players (national team captains) and managers will no longer have a say.
However, France Football has announced that it is ending its partnership with world football’s governing body, effective as of the next award which will be the 61st. FIFA may recover the FIFA World Player award.
Lionel Messi has won the prize the most times – the Barcelona forward picked up his record fifth award in 2015.
The first Ballon d’Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.
While Cristiano Ronaldo is the front-runner in the race to win the award this year, 5-time victor Lionel Messi is also amongst the favourites.
The first non-European to win it was the following year, AC Milan’s Liberian star George Weah.
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The FIFA World Player of the year, introduced in 1991, was awarded until 2009 with the victor decided by votes from national team coaches and captains from all of the association members.
