The origin of the Ballon d'Or
How football's most famous individual award began, who created it, how the winner is chosen, and how it grew from a European prize into a global honour.
A prize for the best
The Ballon d'Or, French for the Golden Ball, is football's most prestigious individual award, given to the player judged the best over a year. It was created in the mid-1950s by a French football magazine, which wanted to honour the finest talent in the game with a prize that stood above any single club or country. From the start it was designed to celebrate individual brilliance in a sport built around teams.
The first winner
The inaugural award was handed out in 1956, and its first recipient was the English winger Stanley Matthews, a player admired for his dribbling and longevity. That first Ballon d'Or set the template: a respected panel would look back over the year and choose the outstanding performer, and the winner would join a growing list of the game's greatest names, season by season.
How the winner is chosen
Unlike a trophy won on the pitch, the Ballon d'Or is decided by a vote. Traditionally a panel of football journalists, and later other voters, assess the candidates and rank their choices, with the player accumulating the most support taking the prize. Because it is a matter of judgement rather than a single result, the award often sparks fierce debate, which is part of what has made it such a talking point every year.
From Europe to the world
For its early decades the Ballon d'Or was limited to European players, but over time its scope widened until it recognised the best footballer regardless of nationality. That change reflected the sport's growing global reach and allowed stars from every continent to be honoured. Today the Golden Ball is followed around the world, and winning it remains one of the defining achievements of a footballer's career.