What next for the future of the Ballon d’Or?

The Independent’s Jack Austin reported on Tuesday that France Football’s relationship with FIFA will cease this year, meaning players will once again compete for two gongs-the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Now FIFA must decide whether they will revive the defunct FIFA World Player award.

The announcement comes after the magazine ended its six-year association with FIFA, a relationship in which the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s World Player of the Year combined to award the world’s best player.

Before that the Ballon d’Or was given to the best European player until in 1995 when it became the best player who was playing for a European club.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the FIFA Ballon d’Or and its precursor over the past eight years, with five and three victories respectively with Brazilian midfielder Kaka the last player to win outside of the two superstars, when he claimed both the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year.

FC Barcelona and Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi delivers a speech flanked by FIFA interim president Issa Hayatou (L) after receiving the 2015 FIFA Ballon dOr award for player of the year during the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 11, 2016.

France Football said the award will now be decided by votes by select journalists, confirming the exclusion of national team coaches and captains.

It had replaced the FIFA World Player of the year and European footballer of the year award.

The victor and the complete rankings will be revealed before the end of the year.