By AFP More by this AuthorPARISThe Ballon d'Or will not be awarded this year due to the extraordinary conditions created by the coronavirus pandemic, organisers France Football announced on Monday. "There will be no edition in 2020, because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all the conditions are not met," said Pascal Ferre, the editor of the magazine. The COVID-19 outbreak saw all major football leagues shut down in March, with the German Bundesliga the first to resume behind closed doors in May. Lionel Messi won a record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or last year. The women's Ballon d'Or, which was first awarded in 2018, has also been cancelled.

Source: Daily Nation July 20, 2020 13:07 UTC