Ballon d'Or
The Ballon d'Or, established in 1956 by French magazine France Football, is an annual football award recognising the best male player globally. Initially, it honoured only European players active in Europe, with Englishman Stanley Matthews as its first recipient. In 1995, eligibility expanded to include all players at European clubs, and by 2007, it encompassed players worldwide, reflecting the sport's global nature.
Voting and criteria
Originally, only journalists voted for the Ballon d'Or. Between 2010 and 2015, during its merger with FIFA's World Player of the Year award, national team coaches and captains also participated in voting. Since 2016, the award has reverted to journalist-only voting. In 2022, the evaluation period shifted from the calendar year to the European football season, aligning the award more closely with club competitions.
Notable winners
Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d'Or wins, while Cristiano Ronaldo has five. The 2024 award went to Spain's Rodri for his performances with Manchester City and the national team. The 2025 ceremony is scheduled for September 22 at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet.
Women's Ballon d'Or
Introduced in 2018, the Ballon d'Or Féminin honours the top female footballer annually. Norway's Ada Hegerberg was the inaugural winner. Spain's Aitana Bonmatí secured the award in both 2023 and 2024, highlighting her contributions to FC Barcelona and the national team.
Additional honours
The Ballon d'Or ceremony also features other awards:
- Kopa Trophy: Best male under-21 player.
- Yashin Trophy: Top goalkeeper.
- Gerd Müller Trophy: Leading goal scorer.
- Sócrates Award: Outstanding humanitarian work.
- Ballon d'Or Dream Team: An all-time best XI, introduced in 2020.
