For 70 years, the Ballon d’Or has chronicled football’s greatest individual performers, creating a roll call that stretches from England’s Stanley Matthews and Alfredo Di Stéfano to Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
PUNCH Online reported on Tuesday that according to UEFA on its website, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded annually since 1956 and remains one of football’s most prestigious individual honours, recognising exceptional talent and outstanding achievements on the pitch.
UEFA noted that the award was created by France Football magazine, with Matthews becoming the inaugural winner in 1956 after claiming the first edition of a prize that would eventually become one of the game’s most recognisable individual honours.
The award, however, has not remained unchanged.
France Football initially restricted the Ballon d’Or to European players, meaning several iconic footballers, including Brazil’s Pelé and Argentina’s Diego Maradona, were not eligible during much of their playing careers under the original rules.
