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Do players receive cash prizes for winning the Ballon d'Or?
Published : Monday, 26 October, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
Ballon d'Or stands as the ultimate individual accolade in world football, immortalizing players who lift its golden trophy. Yet, contrary to popular belief, winning the prestigious award does not come with a direct cash prize from the organizers.
Established in 1956 by the French magazine France Football, the award originally honored Europe's top player before expanding globally to recognize both male and female footballers worldwide.
While France Football and its organizers do not award any monetary prize money to the winner, securing the accolade unlocks lucrative financial opportunities. A player's club contracts often feature performance-based bonus clauses for winning the Ballon d'Or, which can trigger substantial payouts. Furthermore, the victory dramatically increases a player's commercial value, paving the way for lucrative endorsement deals, sponsorships, and marketing campaigns.
For instance, following his 2018 Ballon d'Or victory, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric reportedly received an €800,000 bonus from his sponsor, Nike, under the terms of his endorsement agreement rather than from the award organizers.
The Golden Trophy and Its Craftsmanship
Many assume the iconic Ballon d'Or trophy is made entirely of solid gold. In reality, it is crafted by the historic French jewelry house Mellerio dits Meller. The spherical football portion is made of brass covered in a fine layer of gold, mounted on a base of pyrite, a natural mineral. Artisans spend approximately 100 hours crafting each trophy.
While various media reports estimate the production cost of the trophy to be around €3,000, neither the organizers nor the makers have ever officially disclosed its exact market value.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or gala is scheduled to take place on Monday night (October 26) at the London Palladium Theatre, commencing around midnight Bangladesh time.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
