Ballon d’Or cancelled this year amid coronavirus disruption
- Prestigious award has been given out every year since Stanley Matthews won the first one in 1956
- Decision was made ‘at least two months ago’ with Lionel Messi winning it a record six times
The prestigious Ballon d’Or will not be awarded this year because the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the soccer season.
Awarded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d’Or has been given out every year since Stanley Matthews won the first one in 1956. Lionel Messi has won it a record six times – one more than long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The magazine started giving out a women’s award in 2018, but that has also been put on hold.
“It’s such a strange year that we couldn’t treat it as an ordinary one. Let’s say that we started talking about [making the decision] at least two months ago,” France Football editor Pascal Ferre said in a telephone interview.
“It isn’t a decision we took lightly but we had to accept it couldn’t be a normal or typical Ballon d’Or winner, and what really worried us it that it wouldn’t be fairly awarded.”
