The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or has never been more wide open. With no Euros or Copa America in the summer, much of the ...

Created by the prestigious France Football outlet in 1956, the Ballon d’Or is generally regarded as soccer’s most prestigious award. Blackpool and England’s Stanley Matthews was its first ...

Stanley Matthews’ professional career was unique ... In 1956, Matthews made history as the inaugural winner of the Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football to the best player in Europe.

Manchester United may be some distance off posting a genuine Ballon d'Or contender these days ... inaugural award was dished out to Blackpool's Stanley Matthews. He beat Spanish duo Luis Suarez ...

However, individuals can take home awards as well. In football, no individual award carries more cache than the Ballon d’Or. It’s been handed out every year since 1956 and most of the best to ...

In 1960, Spanish forward Luis Suárez took home the prestigious Ballon d'Or. While his victory solidified his place in history, his individual performance that season was not stellar; critics argue ...