By: Solomon Wise, 2023 November
Ballon d’Or is a French word that means ‘GOLDEN BALL’.
it is an annual football award hosted by the French news magazine since 1956. Stanley. In 2020 the awards were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lionel Messi has won the award eight times followed by Cristiano Ronaldo who has won it five times.
History
Between 2010 and 2015 an agreement with FIFA made the award to temporarily merge with the FIFA World Player of the Year which was founded in 1991 (FIFA Ballon d’Or). in 2016 that partnership ended and FIFA had its separate award known as the best FIFA men’s player. In 2011, the rules were modified and France changed the timing so that the awards were given not for the achievements during the calendar year but for a football season. In the same year (2011) UEFA created the UEFA Best Player in Europe award to maintain the tradition of the original Ballon d’Or of specifically honoring a football player from Europe.
In 2007, coaches and captains of national teams were allowed the right to vote making the award a global prize with professional footballers from around the world being eligible.
Mathews from England was the first player to win the award in 1956, the Ballon d’Or is awarded based on player performance during the calendar year. Liberia’s George Weah became the first non-European to win the award in 1995, the year that rules of eligibility were changed. Ronaldo of Brazil became the first South American winner in 1997.
Winners
Messi officially took home the 2023 Ballon d’Or on 30/October/2023 for the eighth time in his career followed by Erling Haaland who outscored him last season but took the second position.