User:Petr10messi

The Ballon d’Or, meaning ‘the golden ball’ was conceived by France Football magazine chief editor Gabriel Hanot who asked his colleagues to vote for their best European player in 1956.

Originally journalists could only vote for Europeans playing in Europe but a rule change in 1995 meant that players from other continents could win the award, as long as they played for a European club. The pool of journalists allowed to vote also increased to 96 around the world.

Lionel Messi has won the award a record four times, with three players each having claimed it on three occasions: Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten.

In 2010 the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year were merged, with the world’s best player awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or.'Bold text'Bold text'Bold text '