OPINION. "For a Fair Play Ballon d'Or," by Nicolas Béraud, CEO of Betclic Group

The Ballon d'Or does not only reward a player: it celebrates an era, a symbol, a vision of football. On September 22, when Paris will host the mythical ceremony, the entire planet will be watching those who embody this sport now become a universal language.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is, every year since 1956, one of the most awaited moments on the global football calendar. Awarded by 150 journalists from around the world, the trophies for the best player and best player in the world are true accolades in the careers of those who one day have the chance to receive them.

These distinctions remind us how the impact of female and male footballers goes beyond their athletic performances. Their personal stories, their societal commitments, and their cultural influence make them global icons. In schoolyards and on social networks, their gestures are imitated, their attitudes scrutinized. This status assigns them an additional responsibility: that of setting an example.

That is why it is time to take a new step: to create a Ballon d'Or for fair play.

Society expects its public figures to be reference points, especially in troubled times. Valuing fair play means acknowledging that certain behaviors are just as valuable - and have a completely different meaning - as a goal or an assist: protecting referees, easing tensions in stadiums, showing that one can win without cheating.

"Valuing fair play means acknowledging that certain behaviors are just as valuable - and have a completely different meaning - as a goal or an assist"

The past season has offered us unforgettable gestures. Pepê, from FC Porto, interrupting a play upon seeing an opponent on the ground. Patrick Dorgu, in Europa League, refusing a wrongly awarded penalty. And this has always existed in football: we still remember Paolo Di Canio's gesture in 2000, stopping the game to allow the medics to attend to the opposing goalkeeper. Or Miroslav Klose's act of honesty, admitting to the referee that he had scored with his hand during a crucial match.

These moments convey the essence: humanity and respect for the rules do not diminish victory; they elevate it.

As educators, coaches, and referees regularly express their concerns about the lack of civility on and around the fields, it is time to firmly assert that respecting others and the rules also contributes to the global reputation of athletes.

"Humanity and respect for the rules do not diminish victory; they elevate it"

This historic award of the Ballon d'Or must celebrate football as a school of life, a tool for education and cohesion by raising to the level of essential role models those who defend these principles of living together, even in the adversity of competition.

Honoring fair play is to remind us that the greatest do not just score goals; they leave a mark on minds.