Ballon d'Or: Millions, Sponsors, and the Big Chance

2026-10-09 21:47 © SIPA

"Ballon d’Or” has long been considered one of the most coveted individual awards in football.

However, despite its prestige, it is organized not by FIFA, but by the French publications "France Football” and "L'Equipe,” in collaboration with UEFA.

FIFA has a separate awards ceremony called "The Best.” Although from 2010 to 2015 the two organizations combined their awards, this collaboration eventually ceased.

Who funds the "Ballon d’Or” ceremony?

Over the decades, the awards have grown from a small event to a globally broadcast football celebration. Initially, the "Ballon d’Or” was intended for European footballers, but since 1995, players from other continents have also been eligible to win. Since 2007, national team coaches and captains have also started participating in the voting.

The first award in 1956 went to Stanley Matthews. At that time, the ceremonies were modest, and players sometimes learned of their victory from newspapers or radio. The event began being broadcast on television in 2000, and in 2010, when the awards merged with FIFA, it became a global spectacle.

Today, major sponsors help fund the ceremony. Among them are "Qatar Airways,” "Adidas,” Swiss watchmaker "Vanguart,” collectible card company "Topps,” and tire manufacturer "Hankook.” In exchange for financial support, these brands are visible during the event, on the red carpet and in other areas of the ceremony.

How much money does the "Ballon d’Or” earn?

"France Football” does not officially disclose detailed financial information about the event. However, based on various unofficial estimates, the ceremony could have brought the publication around 15 million euros in revenue in 2024. In recent years, annual revenues are reportedly around 10–16 million euros.

Additional revenue comes from selling exclusive tickets. For example, tickets for the 2026 ceremony cost about 3,000 British pounds. They included seating in the event hall, the opportunity to visit the red carpet, and take photos.

What is the cost of the trophy and the ceremony?

Although the exterior of the "Ballon d’Or” trophy is made of about one kilogram of 18-karat gold, its base is formed from brass and pyrite. The value of one trophy is approximately 3,000 euros.

However, the largest expenses are not related to the awards themselves, but to organizing the event. This requires renting a prestigious hall, arranging security, staff, stage equipment, guest reception, and dealing with international media.

Since 2019, the ceremony has usually taken place at the "Theatre du Chatelet” in Paris. A private event in this hall, which accommodates about a thousand people, reportedly can cost around 25,000 euros, but organizing an awards night of such scale incurs significantly higher costs.

The ceremony is planned to be moved to London in 2026 – it will take place at the "London Palladium,” which can accommodate over 2,200 spectators. Renting this hall for a private event may cost about 24,000 British pounds.

What financial benefits do the winners receive?

For winning the "Ballon d’Or,” there is no direct cash prize awarded. However, the award can significantly increase a footballer’s commercial value and open doors to lucrative sponsorship deals.

Ousmane Dembélé, who won the "Ballon d’Or” in 2025, received significant interest from brands. Reports indicate that his earnings from sponsorship contracts could reach 8.7 million euros. The Frenchman became an ambassador for the Italian fashion house "Zegna,” signed a contract with the perfume brand "Henry Jacques,” and continues to collaborate with "Adidas.”

Aitana Bonmatí, recognized as the best female football player in the world for three consecutive years – 2023, 2024, and 2025 – also benefited from her growing popularity. In 2024, she switched from "Nike” to "Adidas,” and her commercial agreement at that time was considered one of the most lucrative in women's football.

Luka Modrić, who ended the dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in 2018, also received additional attention from "Nike.” Reports indicate that he received an 800,000-euro bonus, and special edition football boots were released in honor of the Croatian. He also entered into ambassador deals with "Hublot” and "Panini.”

Rodri, who won the "Ballon d’Or” in 2024, also attracted "Nike’s” attention – the company dedicated a special version of the "Phantom Luna 2” football boots to him.

However, such financial success is not guaranteed for every laureate. For example, Stanley Matthews, the first award winner in 1956, did not receive significant new sponsorship contracts or large financial bonuses.

How does the "Ballon d’Or” compare to other major awards?

While the "Ballon d’Or” trophy is highly valued compared to many other awards, the financial power of the ceremony itself does not yet match the "Oscars.” Reports suggest that a 30-second advertisement during the "Oscars” broadcast commercial breaks can cost around 2 million euros, and the television network ABC reportedly pays the Academy about 87 million euros per year for the rights to broadcast the event.

Compared to such figures, the revenues from the "Ballon d’Or” seem significantly smaller. However, the award already has immense international recognition, and its organizers can still leverage commercial opportunities – from sponsorship deals to exclusive tickets and broader event broadcasting.