Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport

When the Ballon d'Or was first introduced by French magazine France Football in 1956, it was initially set out to crown the best footballer in Europe on a yearly basis.

That meant that, from 1956 to 1995, players from the five other FIFA confederations - including South America, Asia and Africa - were not eligible to win the award.

Even when the rules changed in 1995, it only opened the award up to non-European players who were plying their trade on the continent.

It was only in 2007 that the award became a global prize, with any professional player in the world eligible to compete for it.

Before that, though, a host of stellar names missed out on winning the Ballon d'Or, including two of the finest players South America has ever produced - Brazilian goalscoring great Pele and legendary Argentine playmaker Diego Maradona.

Who do you want to win the Ballon d'Or tonight and why?

And who do you think are the best players never to have won the award as well?

Click 'Get Involved' on this page to have your say

Image source, EPA

The 1997 and 2002 Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo, speaking to DAZN: "It looks amazing.

"Everybody on the street and everybody is excited.

"It is always going to be very beautiful for every player. It is good to be here."

Portugal legend and the 2000 Ballon d'Or winner, Luis Figo, jokingly says he should win the 2026 trophy.

Speaking to DAZN, Figo added: "It's a difficult question. All the nominees deserve to have a golden ball and for different reasons.

"So I had the luck I am not voting, so I don't have that problem or that pressure."

Sarah Dawkins
BBC Sport at The London Palladium

Hundreds, if not thousands, of fans who don’t have a ticket have turned up to see guests arriving.

They’re using every means possible to get a glimpse, including pushing down the metal railings and ripping off the material covers.

I’ve also seen people hanging off traffic lights and scaling the Liberty building opposite the Palladium.

Guests have been delayed from arriving on the red carpet because of the huge numbers of people and massive crowds that have turned up.

Ellen White
Former England striker

You can't go away from Alexia Putellas for me. What she did for Barcelona last season in the Champions League final. It's probably going to be three Barcelona players. Cata Coll is up there, Patricia Guijarro [Patri] as well has been brilliant.

From the WSL - Bunny Shaw. Top goalscorer, what she's done and for Man City winning the double. Those are my four.

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder

There are so many fantastic [women's] players. I was a midfielder and I love to look at that Barcelona midfield. Most of the time Patri gets dismissed. Patri has been in there controlling that midfield but doesn't have the off field presence or brand, you don't see her social media the same and she goes under the radar.

In terms of consistent performances, she probably was the best. But if I was to pick a name out and guess who gets it, it will be Alexia Putellas. You can't argue it for any of those players.

The closest player from an English League would be Bunny Shaw.

Sarah Dawkins
BBC Sport at The London Palladium

The first guests are starting to arrive now.

The first footballer off the bus and on the red carpet is England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

Hampton is hidden somewhere behind this group of school children who have been invited along to spot their favourite players.

The official Ballon d'Or X feed has listed the top 10 contenders for the women's Ballon d'Or, in no particular order.

Temwa Chawinga

Melchie Dumornay

Caroline Graham Hansen

Patri Guijarro

Pernille Harder

Ewa Pajor

Claudia Pina

Alexia Putellas

Alessia Russo

Khadija Shaw

Guillem Balague
European football expert

Image source, Getty Images

Can you imagine this Ballon d'Or not won by a PSG player or a Spanish player? Impossible. So gone is Kylian Mbappe.

The PSG players, there are so many of them that deserve it - Fabian Ruiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha. So the vote is going to be split.

There is only one Spaniard who deserves it, and that's Lamine Yamal, who has given us individual performances, collective trophies, and has that aura. He's going to win it.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker Alan Shearer

The winner of the Ballon d'Or should be Harry Kane. His numbers for the last 12 to 18 months have been absolutely sensational for Bayern and for England. For that reason, he should get it.

Julien Laurens
European football expert

Image source, Getty Images

I think Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the best player in Europe last season, especially in the Champions League where he was outstanding. He helped lead the team to another title, a back-to-back one.

He got the penalty in the final, scored in both semi-finals, in the quarter-final, and in the last 16. He was amazing in those huge, huge games where you want your best players to step up. He deserves to win the Ballon d'Or for being the best player in the world all the way up to the World Cup.

He won't win it, unfortunately, because Lamine Yamal, for the player he is and how entertaining and spectacular he is, didn't really shine at the World Cup, even if Spain won it. He didn't really do that well in the Champions League for Barcelona, getting knocked out early. However, his style of football means he'll probably win it - but it should be Kvaratskhelia.

The official Ballon d'Or X feed has listed the top 10 contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or, in no particular order.

Ousmane Dembélé

Erling Haaland

Harry Kane

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Kylian Mbappé

Lionel Messi

Michael Olise

Fabián Ruiz

Rodri

Lamine Yamal

Image source, Getty Images

Good evening!

The red carpet has been rolled out and the biggest stars in football are at the London Palladium Theatre, where the Ballon d'Or winners will be announced in a couple of hours.

Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are the favourites for the men's award while Alexia Putellas is the clear favourite for the women's trophy.

There are, of course, a host of other awards to be handed out tonight, with the ceremony set to begin at 20:00 BST.

For an individual footballer, the Ballon d'Or is one of the most coveted trophies they can win as it recognises their excellence on the pitch over the last year.

Tonight the men and women's award will be handed out, with Harry Kane hoping to become the first English winner of the men's trophy in 25 years.