The History of the Ballon D'or

The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award presented by France Football. It has been awarded since 1956, although between 2010 and 2015 it was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year and known as the FIFA Ballon d'Or.

The Origin of the Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or was created by France Football's chief editor Gabriel Hanot, who was inspired by the idea of the European Footballer of the Year award, which had been introduced by the Italian sports magazine Guerin Sportivo in 1953.

The first Ballon d'Or was awarded in 1956 to Stanley Matthews, an English footballer who played for Blackpool and the national team. Matthews was already 41 years old at the time, but he was still considered one of the best players in Europe.

The Criteria for Winning the Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or is awarded to the best male football player in the world, as voted on by a panel of international journalists. The criteria for winning the award include individual and team performances, as well as the player's behaviour on and off the pitch.

Over the years, the Ballon d'Or has become one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, with players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Michel Platini winning the award multiple times.

The Evolution of the Ballon d'Or

Since its inception, the Ballon d'Or has undergone several changes. In 1995, the award was opened up to non-European players, and in 2007, it was extended to include female footballers, who are awarded the Ballon d'Or Féminin.

In 2010, the Ballon d'Or was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year to create the FIFA Ballon d'Or. However, in 2016, France Football decided to end its partnership with FIFA and bring back the original Ballon d'Or.

The Most Successful Players in Ballon d'Or History

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely considered to be two of the greatest football players of all time, and they have dominated the Ballon d'Or in recent years. Messi has won the award a record seven times, while Ronaldo has won it five times.

Other notable players who have won the Ballon d'Or multiple times include Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Franz Beckenbauer.

The Future of the Ballon d'Or

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ballon d'Or was awarded in 2020, with Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich winning the award. However, there have been some suggestions that the Ballon d'Or may be cancelled in the future due to the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Regardless of what happens in the future, the Ballon d'Or will always be an important part of football history, and it will continue to be a symbol of excellence and achievement in the sport.

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