Can one trophy fairly judge a player in a team sport?

Can a single trophy judge one player in a team sport? The Ballon d'Or's own answer is built into its rules: voters are asked to weigh individual performances, of a decisive and impressive character, but also team performances and achievements, and class and fair play. So the award's own rules mix the player and the team.

Critics see a problem anyway. They have occasionally described the award as a "popularity contest", criticizing its voting process, its bias in favour of attacking players, and the idea of systematically singling out an individual in a team sport. Players themselves often put the team first. Robert Lewandowski, runner-up in 2021, wrote that no player can win an individual award without the strongest team and loyal fans behind him. Wesley Sneijder, fourth in 2010, said winning the Champions League was nicer than an individual trophy. In 2024 Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony in protest at Vinícius Júnior not being the anticipated winner, which they believed he deserved.

The winners' list shows how much team success and personal credit mix. Benzema won in 2022 for leading Real Madrid to the Champions League and La Liga; Modrić in 2018 after being integral to Real Madrid's Champions League and Croatia's run to the World Cup final; Messi in 2023 after leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and winning Ligue 1 with PSG. Gavi won the 2022 Kopa Trophy without winning any trophies at club or international level.

Whether that mix is fair is a judgement each fan, player and voter makes differently.