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The Origins of the Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or was established by Gabriel Hanot, the editor of France Football, in 1956 to honor the best football player in Europe. Initially, only European players who played for European clubs were eligible, but later it was opened up to players from around the world. The Ballon d'Or has become one of the most prestigious individual awards in football and is considered a symbol of excellence. Winners include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and George Best, among others.

Respected soccer magazine France Football initiated the tradition of recognizing Europe's finest football player 55 years ago. They accomplished this by conducting a poll among top soccer journalists across the continent and presenting the winner with the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award. Previously named the European player of the year award, this trophy was given each year to the player who was deemed to have performed the best during the preceding calendar year. Between 1956 and 1994, eligibility for the award required a player to be of European nationality and play for a club based in Europe.

In 1995, France Football brought about a significant alteration to the Ballon d'Or award, by removing the nationality requirement and extending eligibility to players from European clubs. Consequently, that year, George Weah, a Liberian footballer from AC Milan, became the first non-European player to receive the award. Subsequently, in 2007, France Football revised the eligibility criteria once more, allowing players from around the world to qualify, regardless of their nationality or professional club affiliation. This modification effectively transformed the Ballon d'Or into the global player of the year award.

How  the trophy is made

One of the oldest jewelers in the world, Mellerio dits Meller, is responsible for manufacturing the Ballon d'Or award trophy.Crafted from brass and gold, the Ballon d'Or award features a solid brass football figure standing upright atop a pyrite pedestal. The pedestal is coated with gold leaf and bears the winner's name and the year of their victory inscribed on it. The football figure is handmade and stands at around 31 centimeters (12 inches) in height. The brass used to create the football is polished to produce a lustrous finish.

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How do you win the Ballon d'Or

To be awarded the Ballon d'Or, a football player must have delivered an outstanding performance on the pitch. The accolade is bestowed upon the top male footballer worldwide based on their performance in the previous year (January to December). International journalists constitute a panel that elects the winner by voting for their top three players, awarding five points for their first choice, three for their second, and one for their third. After the tallying of votes, the player with the highest points emerges as the winner. Although there is no predefined standard for winning the award, players who perform exceptionally in major international tournaments, such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, or their domestic league, are often considered favorites. Other factors such as individual performance statistics such as goals and assists, team accomplishments, and overall impact on the game, may also be taken into account.

Statistics of the Ballon d’Or winners

• The 2021 Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi, has won the award more times than any other player in history. He has won the award seven times, breaking the previous record of five wins held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
• The Ballon d'Or has been won by players from 13 different countries, with Brazil, Argentina, and Portugal having produced the most winners after European countries.
• The most successful clubs in terms of Ballon d'Or wins are Barcelona and Real Madrid, with a combined total of 19 awards won by their players.
• Players in the forward position have won the Ballon d'Or the most times, with 47 out of the 64 winners being forwards.
• The Ballon d'Or has been won by defenders only four times: Franz Beckenbauer in 1972 and 1976, Matthias Sammer in 1996, and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
• The Ballon d'Or has been won by midfielders 12 times, with Michel Platini winning the award a record three times in a row from 1983 to 1985.