Widely regarded as the most prestigious individual accolade in world football, the Ballon d'Or has celebrated the sport's finest talents for nearly seven decades. Presented annually by the French magazine France Football, the award honors the standout player of the season based on individual brilliance, team achievements, elite talent, and exemplary sportsmanship.
The Evolution of the Golden Ball
The award was founded in 1956 by Gabriel Hanot, a renowned sports journalist, former director of France Football, and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the European Cup. In its initial format, the prize was restricted strictly to European footballers. England's Stanley Matthews, then starring for Blackpool, claimed the inaugural trophy.
The rules underwent a major overhaul in 1995, allowing players of any nationality to be nominated provided they represented a European club. Liberian forward George Weah made history that same year by becoming the first non-European winner following his move from Paris Saint-Germain to AC Milan.
In 2007, the Ballon d'Or became truly global. All geographical boundaries were removed, opening eligibility to footballers competing in any league across the world and expanding the voting panel to accredited international journalists.
Voting Rules and Selection Criteria
The winner is determined by a panel of specialized football journalists representing eligible nations across the globe. Each voter selects and ranks their top 10 candidates, awarding points on a descending scale.
Jurors are instructed to evaluate nominees based on three primary pillars:
Individual performances and decisive contributions throughout the season. Team trophies and collective achievements. Class, technical excellence, and fair play on the pitch.
Tiebreaker Procedure
If two or more candidates finish level on total points, the tie is resolved by the highest number of first-place votes. If parity remains, the count moves sequentially to second-place votes, third-place votes, and so on. In the rare event that a deadlock still persists, the editor-in-chief of France Football casts the deciding vote.
Can a Player Win Multiple Awards in One Night?
Because each category operates with separate nominations and independent voting tallies, regulations permit a single player to claim more than one individual trophy at the same ceremony. While no player has accomplished this feat yet, the rules do not preclude it.
All-Time Most Successful Players
Only a select group of legends have lifted the Golden Ball on multiple occasions:
Lionel Messi (8): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo (5): 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Michel Platini (3): 1983, 1984, 1985
Johan Cruyff (3): 1971, 1973, 1974
Marco van Basten (3): 1988, 1989, 1992
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