The Fifa Ballon D’or

In the year 1956 A French Football writer Gabriel Hanot conceived the idea of creating an award which would honor the best player for that calendar year. At first the rule was only European players who play for European clubs were eligible meaning the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona were never eligible for this prestigious award. In 1995 the rule changed as Non Europeans were eligible for the Award.
The award only acquired the Name Ballon D’or upon creation in 1956 but in 2010 when being merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award it was then named the FIFA Ballon D’or. The first player to win the Ballon D’or was English player Stanley Mattews who at the time was playing for English Club Blackpool FC. During the years 1957-1959 the Ballon D’or being awarded to players from Spanish Giants Real Madrid. Alfredo Di Stéfano and Raymond Kopa were awarded the Ballon D’or with Di Stéfano claiming it twice (1957 and 1959). In the year that followed the award was given to a player from Madrid greatest rivals FC Barcelona. The 1960 edition was given to Luis Suarez. I know many people are thinking of the current Liverpool forward but this Suarez was a Spanish playmaker who was as brilliant as the Current Luis Suarez
The Ballon D’or hasn’t only gone to Spanish, German or Italian based players in the past. During the 1960’s Three Manchester United players were awarded this prestigious award. England’s World Cup win in 66 was down to the skill and goal making abilities of Sir Bobby Carlton who was awarded the Ballon D’or the very same year. George Best the Welsh winger who played a pivotal role in Manchester United first ever European Cup triumph was duly voted and awarded the Ballon D’or in 1968.
The early 1970’s was the Johan Cryff era of the Ballon D’or which the Dutchman being voted the best on 3 occasions (1971, 1973 and 1974). This outstanding achievement was only eclipsed by Current Uefa president Michel Platini who won the award in 3 consecutive years between 1983 and 1985.
The year 1995 was a historical year for the Ballon D’or when for the first time ever Non European players were eligible for this prestigious award. The 1st ever non European winner was George Weah who at the time was playing for Italian Giants AC Milan. Weah was confirm as the best player on the planet during that year and up till today he remains as the only African to win the Ballon D’or. An Accolade well deserved by a great African Footballer
What would history be without any Germans?
German has produced great players throughout football history but not many have claimed the Ballon D’or. The Greats such as Franz Beckenbauer(2 Ballon D’or), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge(2 Ballon D’or), Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus and Matthias Sammer have all won the Ballon D’or making it a total of 7 awards among 5 German Internationals. An Outstanding Achievement for Germany who could add to the list with the Current crop of talent in the National Squad
The Italian contingent of winners stretches as far back as Omar Sívori in 1961 right up to Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. But there has been a few more winners in between such as Gianni Rivera in 1969, Paolo Rossi in 1982 and Roberto Baggio in 1993. Although current Italian Keeper Gianluigi Buffon became only the 2nd keeper in history to make it into the Top 3 of the Ballon D’or after German great Oliver Kahn.
The Samba Boys from Brazil are also well represented with the likes of Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Kaka as well as Ronaldinho all having won the Ballon D’or with Ronaldo Claiming it on 2 occasions. The English also have Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen on their list of Ballon D’or winners with Owen being the last Englishman to win it when he won it in 2001. The previous year Luis Figo became the first Portuguese to win the award. In 2003 Pavel Nedved did likewise when he became the first Czech International to win the award. The great Zinedine Zidane who single handedly destroyed Brazil in the 1998 Fifa World Cup Final was voted as the best player in the world during that same year.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the forefront of Ballon D’or Nominations since 2008 when Cristiano won the award while still at Manchester United. From 2009 onward it has been the lionel Messi show as he eclipsed the record held by Michel Platini. Messi since 2009 has won 4 Ballon D’or in consecutive years, cementing his place among the greats of Football.
This year it is hard to say if Lionel Messi will pick up his 5th consecutive award or will Cristiano Ronaldo beat Messi for the 1st time since 2008. There is also a new contender in the ring with Franck Ribery the catalyst behind Bayern Munich treble winning season last campaign. In an added twist Ribery has beaten both Ronaldo and Messi to be crowned Best player in Europe for 2012-2013.With the 2013 edition of the Fifa Ballon D’or looming it spices things up as these 3 great players slug it out to be proven as the best in the world. All will be revealed tomorrow evening (12-01-2014) at a special gala evening in Zurich