Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award presented by France Football to honor outstanding players. Established in 1956, it originally recognized the best European player before expanding its eligibility.

Gabriel Hanot: A French football journalist and former player who helped create the Ballon d'Or. Hanot proposed an award recognizing Europe's best footballer.
Ballon d'Or voting: The process by which journalists select and rank candidates for the Ballon d'Or. A jury of international journalists determines the winner.
Lionel Messi: An Argentine footballer who has won the men's Ballon d'Or more times than any other player. His record number of wins defines the award's modern history.
UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award: UEFA's annual award recognizing the best player in European club football. Its focus on European club competition differs from the Ballon d'Or's scope.
European Footballer of the Year: The original scope of the Ballon d'Or, limited to European players at European clubs. This restriction defined the award from 1956 until eligibility expanded in 1995.
Ballon d'Or criteria: The stated considerations used to evaluate Ballon d'Or candidates, including individual performance and team achievements. The criteria specify what voters are asked to weigh.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A Portuguese footballer and multiple-time Ballon d'Or winner. His repeated victories form the era's defining rivalry with Messi.
PFA Players' Player of the Year: An annual English football award voted on by members of the Professional Footballers' Association. Players, rather than journalists, choose this award's winner.
FIFA Ballon d'Or: A joint FIFA and France Football award presented from 2010 through 2015. The original award temporarily merged with FIFA's world player honors.
France Football: A French football magazine that created and presents the Ballon d'Or. France Football sets the award's rules and administers its vote.

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