History of the Ballon d’Or

Mariana Varkholiak, Staff Reporter

November 18, 2024

The Ballon d’Or trophy.This award is given out by France Football every year.

What is the Ballon d’Or?

This is the picture of the Ballon d’Or trophy, known at the time as the FIFA Ballon d’Or. This award is not made out of gold, yet costs about $3,000.

The Ballon d’Or is a soccer award given to the player with the best results based on the last season. Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran, who were both sports writers, created the Ballon d’Or Award. This award has been presented by French magazine France Football since 1956. It was first awarded on December 18, 1956, which was 67 years ago. The Ballon d’Or was originally called the European Footballer of the Year Award and was only given to European players. Over the years, the eligibility and voting rules changed multiple times.This award is more conclusive today as any player can qualify to receive it. An interesting fact is that the first female Ballon d’Or was awarded in 2018, which is 62 years after the first male Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’Or Winners Over The Last 5 Years

2020 Ballon d’Or

Due to the disruption to world sport in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, there was no award given in 2020. According to public opinion, Robert Lewandowski was the favorite for the award had the voting process not been canceled.

2021 Ballon d’Or

The winner in 2021 was Lionel Messi. He won the men’s Ballon d’Or award for a record seventh time. In 2021, it was the first time two more awards were given, the Best Club and Best Striker of the Year.

2022 Ballon d’Or

Karim Benzema with his first ever Ballon d’Or. He became the first French footballer to bag the award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

The 30 nominees for the 2022 award were announced in August. Seven-time winner Lionel Messi was not on the list. The winner was the fan favorite from Real Madrid, Karim Benzema. Benzema became only the fifth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or, and at 34 years old. He was the oldest winner since Stanley Matthews in 1956. Also, the Socrates Award which acknowledges the humanitarian work by a champion footballer, was first presented in 2022.

Leo Messi with his eighth Ballon d’Or award. This is the world record for the most Ballon d’Or awards.

2023 Ballon d’Or

The 2023 Ballon d’Or saw Lionel Messi win his record-extending eighth title. Messi’s victory was largely attributed to his key role in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, where he was named the tournament’s best player.

2024 Ballon d’Or

Aitana Bonmatí and Rodri with their Ballon d’Or awards. This picture was taken on October 28,2024 in Paris, France.

The winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or is Rodrigo Hernández, known as Rodri or Rodrigo. He is the third Spanish player to win a Ballon d’Or. Rodri is a professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League Club Manchester City and the Spain national team. The female 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is Aitana Bonmatí. She plays for FC Barcelona and the Spain national team. This is her second Ballon d’Or. She got her first Ballon d’Or last year. For the first time, both the men’s and women’s Ballons d’Or were awarded to players from the same country, in addition to the Kopa Trophy being also awarded to Lamine Yamal, also from Spain.

All of the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees. There is a total of 30 nominees each year.

Messi and Ronaldo holding their Ballon d’Or awards. As of 2024, Messi is 37 y.o and Ronaldo is 39 y.o.

Dominance of Messi and Ronaldo

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or in recent years. Messi, an Argentine forward, has won the award eight times, while Ronaldo, a Portuguese forward, has claimed it five times. Their rivalry amazed fans and highlighted their incredible skills.

Above is the number of total votes for Messi and Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or. Both of them have the most points in Ballon d’or history.

Voting Process

Each year, sports journalists from around the world vote for their favorite players. They consider how well players performed during the year. The winner is then announced at a special event.

Importance of the Award

The Ballon d’Or celebrates not just individual talent but also memorable moments in soccer. It inspires young players and showcases the sport’s global appeal.

The award continues to be a highlight in the soccer world, honoring the best players and their achievements each year.

Work Cited:

Mikkelsen, S. (2023, October 30). All Ballon d’Or winners – Complete list. Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/en/news/ballon-d-or-winners-messi-ronaldo-zidane-complete-list
Tansley, E. T. (2024, October 23). How is the Ballon d’Or 2024 winner decided? New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5781652/2024/10/23/ballon-dor-2024-voting-how-it-works/
Espn. (2020, December 10). Ballon d’Or 2020 was canceled this year, but who should have won? https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37609308/ballon-dor-2020-was-canceled-year-have-won-our-experts-decide
Robert Wood, “Ballon d’Or History.” Topend Sports Website, first published August 2022,Accessed Oct. 28,2024 https://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/awards/ballondor-history.htm

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