For some more than for others, the end truly justifies the means. Pascal Ferré, former editor-in-chief of France Football and head of the Ballon d’Or organisation until 2023, made several juicy revelations in an interview with Marca. One of them relates in particular to an attempted bribe.

“An agent wanted to meet me,” the former journalist recounts. “His client was a nominee, of course, and after explaining and extolling his merits to me, he asked if I could, in inverted commas, ‘sell’ his candidacy to the jury. I naturally replied that I couldn’t.”

Explaining that he subsequently had to step out “for a few moments”, Ferré recalls that the agent in question took the opportunity to slip away, leaving an envelope on the table as he went.

“I took it and handed it in at reception. I don’t know what was in it,” he continues. “To tell the truth, I’ve bumped into that officer several times since, but he’s never mentioned the envelope to me, nor told me what was in it.”

A clear and blatant attempt at bribery that speaks volumes about the methods employed by certain individuals in an attempt to tip the scales in their favour, but also about the importance of winning a prestigious award such as the Ballon d’Or.