How a European trophy for journalists became football's ultimate global prize
In short: Once restricted to players on the European continent, the Ballon d'Or has transformed into a worldwide phenomenon. From its 1956 origins to the era of global superstars, the rules governing who can win—and who gets to vote—have undergone a radical evolution.
Originally established in 1956 by writers Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran, the award was known as the European Footballer of the Year. For decades, eligibility was strictly limited to players from Europe. This changed in 1995 when the criteria expanded to include any player active at a European club, a shift that allowed Liberia's George Weah to become the first non-European winner.
The award's scope continued to widen, becoming a truly global competition in 2007. This era saw the inclusion of all professional footballers regardless of their club's location. Between 2010 and 2015, a partnership with FIFA even rebranded the trophy as the FIFA Ballon d'Or. While the voting body has fluctuated—at one point including national team captains and coaches—it eventually reverted to a journalist-led system.
Recent years have brought significant structural changes. In 2022, France Football moved away from the calendar year format, instead basing the award on the performance of the preceding football season. The voting process was also refined to include an international jury of specialists, with one representative chosen from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA Men's World Ranking.
Despite its prestige, the award is not without controversy. Critics often label it a 'popularity contest' due to its perceived bias toward attacking players and the difficulty of honoring defenders in a team sport. Nevertheless, the history of the trophy is defined by legendary figures, from the inaugural winner Stanley Matthews to the record eight-time champion, Lionel Messi.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ballon d'Or
- Also: Wikidata — Ballon d'or · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Ballon d'Or · CC0
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