Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal compete for the Ballon d'Or trophy tonight at London's Palladium Theatre. France Football magazine sports writers Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran created the accolade in 1956. England great Stanley Matthews claimed the inaugural prize, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated recent decades.
Modern ceremonies resemble the Oscars with red carpets and crowds of supporters. In contrast, Florian Albert received the prize inside his Budapest kitchen in 1967. Critics such as Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have previously spoken against the trophy.
Born From Boredom
Pascal Ferre, a former director at France Football, revealed that the global spectacle started out of boredom. Staff constantly sought new inventions to boost magazine circulation, according to the book The Hidden Face of the Ballon d'Or released last month. Lev Yashin won the trophy in 1963 when it adopted its official title, remaining the sole goalkeeper to achieve this. Editor-in-chief Max Urbini tallied votes in his kitchen during that era while his wife typed them. Today, 100 jurors from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries handle the complex voting process. The honor only opened to global players in 1995, excluding legends like Pele and Maradona.
Players Want It More Than A Team Trophy
Modern players display intense dedication toward winning the prize. Michael Owen reacted with confusion when told he won in 2001, asking his manager what it was before receiving it on the Anfield pitch. Owen stated he disliked the award and wanted to focus on his match. Conversely, Trent Alexander-Arnold stated he would choose a Ballon d'Or over team titles with Liverpool. Jadon Sancho expressed a similar dream in 2019, while Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 partly to challenge Lionel Messi, including a £2.6 million bonus clause in his contract.
Financial Incentives
Holding the title of world's best player brings financial rewards. Ferre compared the status to an Oscar-winning actor increasing in market value. Barcelona president Joan Laporta included a bonus in Lionel Messi's deal, and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reportedly has a similar clause. However, Ousmane Dembele noted that holding the trophy brings intense scrutiny and heavy criticism following every match.
Not Everyone's On Board
The individual focus draws criticism from coaching figures. Arsene Wenger stated he opposed the prize because individual obsessions ruin careers and promote selfishness. Jose Mourinho shared similar views, arguing that football loses its team concept by focusing too heavily on individuals.
