[Guest post] FIFA v Ballon d’Or: an off the pitch World Cup clash for the ages

The IPKat has received and is pleased to host the following guest post by Alex Sutcliffe (Reddie & Grose) on a trade mark dispute that seems particularly appropriate to report as the World Cup is in full swing. Here’s what Alex writes:

FIFA v Ballon d’Or: an off the pitch World Cup clash for the ages

by Alex Sutcliffe

IPKat-approved ballon d'or

With all eyes on the World Cup, France, Spain and dare we say it, England, are all well fancied by the bookies. That puts the likes of Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal [perhaps not any longer after yesterday, says Merpel], and Ousmane Dembele in contention to battle it out for this year’s Ballon d’or. But could they also walk away with FIFA Best Men’s Player? And how about the FIFA Golden Ball?

If you don’t know the difference, then you’re not alone. In fact, the confusion is the subject of a trade mark dispute that, at the time of writing, is still playing out away from the pitch.

The case could feed into a larger rivalry between FIFA and UEFA, creating complications around naming, branding, and sponsorship for FIFA’s Golden Ball.

A brief history of the awards

Created by France Football Magazine in 1956 and first awarded to Stanley Matthews, the Ballon d’Or recognises the best footballer over the past season. Voted for by 100 journalists from around the world, it is widely considered the highest individual honour in football.

Between 2010 and 2015 it was briefly renamed the FIFA Ballon d’Or and presented jointly by FIFA and France Football magazine. However, that partnership ended, and led FIFA to create its own ‘Best FIFA Men’s Player’, which is also awarded based on an individual’s performances for club and country over the previous 12 months. Alongside this sits the Golden Ball, which FIFA introduced in 1982; this specifically recognises the player judged to have been the star of the World Cup.

The current dispute

In late 2025, FIFA filed a series of trade mark applications for the mark FIFA GOLDEN BALL covering ‘Trophies of common metals and Hosting and organization of award ceremonies; organization and management of award ceremonies’. This includes an International Registration and applications at the EUIPO, USPTO, and Saudi Arabia.

FIFA regularly files applications for trade marks and design to protect its trophies. They have also enforced these applications, relying on a number of rights, including a 3D registration of the World Cup trophy, to push the World Karate Federation to limit the scope of protection of their own 3D trophy application.

However, some of these latest applications for FIFA GOLDEN BALL have been challenged by the owners of the magazine responsible for the Ballon d'Or, on the basis that the applications are confusingly similar to BALLON D'OR, which just so happens to be a direct translation of Golden Ball.

The holders of the BALLON D'OR trade mark have previously shown that they are willing to go to great lengths to enforce their rights. A dispute with the owners of the GOLDEN BALLS trade mark, registered for the British daytime game show, carried on for almost a decade and even reached the General Court and the CJEU.

Where do we go from here?

Unlike the aforementioned negotiation with the World Karate Federation, it is difficult to see how the parties’ overlapping commercial interests could be eliminated by narrowing the FIFA application’s list of goods and services.

Furthermore, given the General Court has previously recognised that the mark BALLON D'OR has a significant reputation in France and is at least conceptually similar to a low degree to GOLDEN BALLS, the holders of the BALLON D'OR trade mark may be confident that they would ultimately succeed in their EU opposition. Whether they will succeed in their oppositions outside of Europe, including Canada and Morocco, remains to be seen.

This case could also feed into the larger rivalry between FIFA and UEFA, who act as the co-organisers of the Ballon d'Or Gala. While the Ballon d'Or has been open to all players globally since 2007, it remains presented by France Football magazine and has only once been granted to a player on a team outside of UEFA’s leagues. That was Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, who took home the award following Argentina’s victory in the 2022 World Cup.

So, there’s every chance this dispute goes into extra time, with neither side eager to concede ground. It’s a trade mark clash that reflects a broader battle for control over the beautiful games’ biggest accolades.

While the players battle it out for immortality on the pitch, it is also worth keeping an eye on this case for a steer on who controls how and where that achievement is ultimately recognised.