by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Ballon d’Or 2024 to Feature Equal Awards for Men and Women, New Categories Added
Paris, June 10 – In a landmark shift toward inclusivity in football, the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will, for the first time, present an equal number of awards to male and female players, organizers announced on Monday.
Scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, this year’s ceremony will see six awards each for men and women, reflecting a growing push for gender parity in the sport’s highest honors.
New Awards for Women’s Football
To match the existing categories in the men’s competition, three new awards have been introduced for women:
- Best Women’s Goalkeeper
- Best Young Women’s Player (equivalent to the men’s Kopa Trophy)
- Women’s Top Scorer (awarded for most goals at club or international level)
In addition, the Socrates Award, which recognizes humanitarian work in football, will continue as a gender-neutral honor.
Nominees for all categories will be announced in early August, organizers said.
Looking Back: Last Year’s Controversy
The 2023 ceremony drew criticism after Real Madrid boycotted the event over Vinícius Júnior missing out on the Best Men’s Player award, which instead went to Rodri of Manchester City. This year, organizers appear to be aiming for a more inclusive and balanced approach.
The expanded award structure signals a significant step forward in recognizing achievements across all areas of the game, particularly as women’s football continues to grow in global visibility and competitiveness.