UEFA and the Amaury Group, owner of L’Equipe and France Football magazine, which created the Ballon d’Or, announced Friday they had signed a partnership to co-organise the awards ceremony starting next year.
The Paris-based Amaury Group will remain the owner of the Ballon d’Or and continue to oversee the vote, while UEFA will take charge of marketing commercial rights and help organise the annual awards gala.Two new prizes will also be awarded in 2024 for the men’s and women’s coach of the year.“We are very happy with this partnership to co-organise the Ballon d’Or ceremony,” said Jean-Etienne Amaury, managing director of the Amaury group.
“It’s a trophy created in 1956 by France Football, the same year of the creation of the European Champions Clubs’ Cup, so there’s a common history between UEFA and the Ballon d’Or.
“The ceremony has taken on a global scale over the past 15 years with worldwide media coverage,” he added.
“So the partnership with UEFA makes perfect sense since it is one of the major players in this sport.”