France Football announce the Ballon d'Or will not be awarded in 2020

France Football, the magazine behind the annual Ballon d'Or award, have announced that the prize will not be handed out this year.

The decision comes due to the complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which put a halt or cancelled the major football leagues.

It's the first time since 1956 that the Ballon d'Or will not be awarded.

"There will be no edition in 2020, because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all the conditions are not met," Pascal Ferre, editor-in-chief of France Football, said in a statement.

"We believe that such a singular year cannot -and should not- be treated as an ordinary one.

"From a sports perspective, two months (January and February), out of the eleven generally required to form an opinion and decide who should lift the trophies, represent far too little to gauge and judge; without forgetting that the other games were played – or will be played – in unordinary conditions (behind closed doors, with five replacements, Champions League’s Final 8 played in a single game).

"Finally, the equity that prevails for this honorary title will not be warranted, especially when it comes to accounting and preparation : all the award seekers will not be in the same boat, some having seen their season cut short. Therefore, how can we establish a fair comparison? To avoid overly convoluted calculations and projections, we chose the least bad of the options.

"This decision, which was taken of course with all the Group stakeholders, does not delight us but it seems to be the most responsible one. Protecting the credibility and legitimacy of such an award also means ensuring its flawlessness over time.

"The Ballon d’Or will gather again the football big family and enthusiasts in 2021, to relive the happiness that surrounds the ceremonies as we have experienced them in recent years."

Barcelona's Lionel Messi was aiming to retain his award after triumphing in 2019. He was set to face competition from Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and many more who lit up 2020.