The Ballon d’Or stands as football’s most famous individual honour, a trophy that symbolises greatness across eras. Since its creation in the 1950s, it has evolved in format, scope, and prestige, but has never lost its aura. To win the Ballon d’Or is to join a lineage of legends.
The Beginning
The story starts in 1956, when Gabriel Hanot, a French journalist with France Football, proposed an award to celebrate Europe’s best footballer each year. His magazine created the Ballon d’Or — literally “Golden Ball” — with English winger Stanley Matthews, then at Blackpool, as the inaugural winner. At the time, the award was open only to European players playing in Europe, which shaped its early decades.
The European Era
The first years of the Ballon d’Or reflected the rise of continental greats. Alfredo Di Stéfano, Real Madrid’s talisman, won twice in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, the award was dominated by names such as Eusébio, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, and George Best. Each represented the growing diversity of European football, from Portugal to Northern Ireland.
The 1970s brought Johan Cruyff, the Dutch visionary, who became the first three-time winner. His dominance coincided with “Total Football” and the Netherlands’ rise. German greats Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller also left their mark, underlining how the trophy mirrored shifts in power across the continent.
Opening to the World
For decades, non-European players were excluded, despite producing brilliance. Pelé and Diego Maradona, for example, never received the Ballon d’Or during their playing careers because of the rules. That changed in 1995, when France Football opened eligibility to players of any nationality, provided they played in Europe. The first global winner was Liberia’s George Weah, then of AC Milan, and his triumph proved the start of a new era.
By 2007, the final restriction fell: any player in the world could now win, regardless of where they played. This opened the way for wider recognition of South American and African stars, ensuring the Ballon d’Or became a truly global prize.
The Messi–Ronaldo Age
No period in the award’s history is as iconic as the rivalry of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. From 2008 to 2017, the two split ten consecutive Ballons d’Or, raising standards to dizzying heights. Messi’s artistry and playmaking genius earned him record totals, while Ronaldo’s athleticism and relentless goal-scoring made him an ever-present contender. Their dominance shaped not only the award but also the wider narrative of football in the 21st century.
Women’s Ballon d’Or
A landmark moment arrived in 2018 with the creation of the Ballon d’Or Féminin, recognising the best female player in the world. Norway’s Ada Hegerberg became the first recipient, while subsequent winners included Megan Rapinoe and Alexia Putellas. The women’s award reflected the rapid growth and increasing visibility of women’s football globally, cementing the Ballon d’Or as a prize for all sides of the game.
How Winners Are Chosen
The Ballon d’Or is awarded by an international panel of journalists, one voter per country. Each selects a shortlist in order of preference, with points assigned accordingly. The criteria focus on individual and team performance, talent, sportsmanship, and career trajectory within the year under review. This process has occasionally sparked debate — with some seasons producing controversial or surprise winners — but it also adds to the drama that surrounds the ceremony.
Rival Awards and the FIFA Merger
In 2010, France Football briefly merged the Ballon d’Or with FIFA’s World Player of the Year award, creating the FIFA Ballon d’Or. This joint format lasted until 2015 before both bodies went their separate ways again. Today, the Ballon d’Or remains a France Football award, while FIFA runs The Best awards. Though separate, both continue to fuel discussion on who truly deserves the crown of “world’s best.”
Legacy and Symbolism
Beyond names and numbers, the Ballon d’Or symbolises the pursuit of excellence. It reflects football’s history: from Matthews in the 1950s, to the artistry of Cruyff, the leadership of Beckenbauer, the genius of Zidane, and the era-defining rivalry of Messi and Ronaldo. It also embodies the game’s global reach, recognising stars from Africa, South America, Europe, and beyond.
Today, winning the Ballon d’Or is more than a personal accolade — it’s a statement of footballing immortality. It places a player alongside the sport’s greatest figures and ensures their legacy is remembered long after their playing days are over.
