Ballon d'Or Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ballon d'Or
The Ballon d'Or trophy
Presented by	France Football
Currently held by	Harry Kane

The Ballon d'Or means "Golden Ball" in French. It is the most famous individual prize in association football. A French magazine called France Football created the prize in 1956. It honors the best soccer player in the world based on great play across a season.

Sports writers Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran first designed the prize. For many years, soccer writers picked the winner. The prize was first given only to stars from Europe. In 1995, any star playing for a European team could win. By 2007, all players worldwide became eligible. Today, top sports writers from around the globe vote on the trophy.

How the Ballon d'Or Works
- Changes Through History
Famous Legends and Record Breakers
Clubs and Countries with the Most Wins
- Leading Countries
- Top Football Clubs
Special and Seasonal Awards
- Other Annual Trophies
- Rare Trophies for Great Legends
Images for kids
See also

How the Ballon d'Or Works

Magazine cover from 1956 showing the very first winner, Stanley Matthews.

The Ballon d'Or trophy looks like a real soccer ball covered in shining gold. Leaders judge players on three main rules:

Individual magic, skills, and decisive actions on the pitch
Team victories, major titles, and team trophies
Class, sportsmanship, and fair play during games

Changes Through History

For a long time, the trophy honored play over a standard calendar year. In 2022, France Football updated the rules. The prize now looks at a single soccer season running from summer to summer. Between 2010 and 2015, the prize joined with FIFA to make the FIFA Ballon d'Or. They parted ways in 2016, and FIFA created The Best FIFA Men's Player award. In 2024, the European soccer group UEFA partnered with France Football to help run the grand ceremony.

Famous Legends and Record Breakers

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lionel Messi (right) won thirteen trophies between them.

Many incredible legends have lifted this shiny golden ball. Some set records that might stand for decades.

The Messi and Ronaldo Era

Lionel Messi holds the world record with eight Ballon d'Or trophies. He won his awards across three different decades. Messi played for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. He is the only star to win the prize with three different teams. He also reached a record fourteen top-three podium finishes.

Cristiano Ronaldo stands right behind Messi with five trophies. Ronaldo played for teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. He holds the record for the most nominations, appearing on the shortlist eighteen times. Together, these two athletes ruled soccer ceremonies for over a decade.

Incredible Three-Time Champions

Before Messi and Ronaldo, three legendary athletes won the prize three times each:

Johan Cruyff from the Netherlands won in 1971, 1973, and 1974. He helped invent an exciting style known as total football with Ajax and Barcelona.
Michel Platini of France won three times in a row from 1983 to 1985 with Juventus.
Marco van Basten, a great Dutch striker for Milan, captured trophies in 1988, 1989, and 1992.

Two-Time Winners

Other soccer stars earned the golden prize twice. Franz Beckenbauer won in 1972 and 1976 with Bayern Munich. He is the only defender to win it more than once. Striker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won back-to-back in 1980 and 1981 for Bayern Munich. English star Kevin Keegan won two in a row in 1978 and 1979 with Hamburger SV. Alfredo Di Stéfano won two awards in 1957 and 1959 for Real Madrid. Brazilian superstar Ronaldo took home two trophies in 1997 and 2002.

Historic Firsts and Unbroken Records

Stanley Matthews from England won the very first Ballon d'Or in 1956 while playing for Blackpool. He was 41 years old, which makes him the oldest winner in history. In 1997, Brazilian striker Ronaldo won the prize at just 21 years old. He remains the youngest winner ever.

Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper to ever win the golden trophy.

Spanish midfielder Luis Suárez won in 1960 with Barcelona as the first midfielder winner. Lev Yashin played for Dynamo Moscow and won in 1963. Yashin is the only goalkeeper to win the award. In 1995, Liberian superstar George Weah of Milan became the first and only African player to win the prize.

Clubs and Countries with the Most Wins

Statue of Manchester United winners George Best, Denis Law, and Bobby Charlton.

Certain countries and teams have produced many winners throughout history.

Leading Countries

Players from France and Argentina lead the world with eight Ballon d'Or trophies each. Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal follow with seven wins each. Five English players have won six trophies combined. Italy and Brazil have five trophies each.

Top Football Clubs

Spanish rival clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona lead all teams worldwide with twelve trophies each. Italian giants Juventus and Milan share eight wins each. German club Bayern Munich has earned six trophies. Manchester United follows with four wins thanks to stars like Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, George Best, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Special and Seasonal Awards

Pelé was named Football Player of the Century in 1999.

The gala ceremony hands out several other major trophies every year to recognize different talents.

Other Annual Trophies

Ballon d'Or Féminin: Celebrates the top woman player of the season, first won in 2018.
Kopa Trophy: Given to the best rising star under the age of 21.
Yashin Trophy: Named after Lev Yashin, honoring the season's top goalkeeper.
Gerd Müller Trophy: Given to the top goalscorer in club and international matches.
Club of the Year: Recognizes the most successful team overall.
Sócrates Award: Given to players doing great charity work to help people.
Johan Cruyff Trophy: Honors the best soccer coach of the season.

Rare Trophies for Great Legends

In 1989, France Football presented the Super Ballon d'Or to Alfredo Di Stéfano. He was chosen as the greatest multiple-time winner. In 1995, Argentine legend Diego Maradona received an honorary Golden Ballon d'Or. Brazilian master Pelé received the FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur in 2013.

In 1999, former winners voted Pelé as the Football Player of the Century over Maradona and Cruyff. In 2020, voters selected an all-time Ballon d'Or Dream Team. It featured icons like Yashin, Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini, Xavi, Lothar Matthäus, Maradona, Pelé, Messi, and both Ronaldos.