Ballon D’Or organizers adds new categories

Ballon d’Or organizers France Football has announced two new awards that will complement male footballer with top female and the best under-21 player in the world.

The 63rd edition awards ceremony to handed out on December 3 in Paris, it will be joined by a prize for the best female of the past year, as well as the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player.
The under-21 award was named after legendary Reims, Angers, Real Madrid and France striker Raymond Kopa, who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1958,

It will be decided by 33 Ballon d’Or recipients, including former UEFA President Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Marco Van Basten, Zinedine Zidane, Pavel Nedved, and Kaka, as well as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Since 2008 Juventus forward Ronaldo and Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi have shared the last 10 Ballons d’Or, winning five apiece.

Meanwhile, FIFA’s The Best awards are set to take place on Monday, with Portugal skipper, Mohamed Salah and Luka Modric are the contenders.