Ballon d'Or organizer says World Cup win does not guarantee award

The organizers of the Ballon d'Or have issued a statement addressing ongoing debate over the criteria for selecting the world's best footballer, saying a World Cup title is an important but not decisive factor. France Football, which has presented the award since 1956, said a player's body of work across the entire season must reflect the highest and most consistent level of performance. The statement stressed that evaluation is not limited to World Cup matches and that tournament success does not automatically translate into the individual prize. The clarification comes amid renewed discussion about how World Cup achievements are weighed against club form in the voting for the annual award given to the year's top player. France Football did not name specific candidates or detail any changes to the voting process.