The Ballon d'Or, or Golden Ball, is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football (soccer). Awarded annually by France Football magazine, the Ballon d'Or honors the player deemed to be the best in the world over the previous year.
The award has a storied history dating back to 1956, when it was first presented to Stanley Matthews of England. Since then, some of the all-time greats of the game have been recognized as Ballon d'Or winners, including Pelé, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo
The process for selecting the Ballon d'Or winner is extensive and involves voting by football journalists from around the world. Each voter submits a list of their top 5 players, with the first-place selection receiving 6 points, second place 4 points, third place 3 points, fourth place 2 points, and fifth place 1 point.
The player who accumulates the most total points is crowned the Ballon d'Or winner for that year. In recent years, the award has often come down to a battle between Messi and Ronaldo, the two dominant superstars of the modern game.
Winning the Ballon d'Or is seen as the ultimate individual honor in football. It's a recognition not just of a player's skill and ability, but also their overall impact on the game, their performances in big matches, and their leadership qualities.
While the Ballon d'Or may not be a perfect measure - there is always debate around the voting and selection process - it remains one of the most authoritative ways to determine the world's best player. For the game's elite players, lifting that coveted trophy is the pinnacle of their career.
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