The Ballon d’Or

The facts

• The Ballon d’Or (“Golden Ball”) was first given in 1956 by the French magazine France Football. Stanley Matthews of England won the first one.
• At first only European players could win it. From 1995 any player at a European club could, and since 2007 every professional player in the world.
• The women’s Ballon d’Or began in 2018. Ada Hegerberg of Norway won the first one.
• Lionel Messi has won the men’s award a record eight times. Alexia Putellas won it twice, and Aitana Bonmatí three times in a row (2023 to 2025).
• Most winners are attackers and midfielders. Lev Yashin (1963) is the only goalkeeper to win it, and Fabio Cannavaro (2006) the third defender, after Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer.

Take it to your game

Every position can be great: save, defend, pass and score for your team, and play fair. That is what the voters look for.