Several Ballon d'Ors, but just 1 Super Ballon d'Or

BeSoccer 4 years ago 9.4k |

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There was a Super Ballon d'Or. EFE

The Ballon d'Or has changed as the years have gone by. The trophy has subtly changed, and the way of giving it out has changed too. There has also been years that special trophies have been given out, such as the Super Ballon d'Or to Di Stefano on Christmas Eve 1989.

There have been lots and lots of Ballon d'Ors given out. 2019 was the 64th, with 6 of them being the FIFA Ballon d'Or given out between 2010 and 2015. The prestigious award is organised by 'France Football'.

Several illustrious players have had the honour of winning it at least once, 10 doing it on more than once occasion, 3 winning it 3 times and only 2 (Messi and Ronaldo) winning it more. But only one can say they have won a special Ballon d'Or. Very special.

It happened in 1989 in the 34th edition of the prize. In the ceremony that crowned Marco van Basten as the best player of the year for the 2nd time, there was a very special award given out.

December 26, 2015

Almost three and a half decades had passed since the award was first given out, and someone at 'France Football' thought it would be a good idea to give an award to the best player ever.

Thus the Super Ballon d'Or was born, represented by an even more baroque trophy than normal, with the ball that gives it its name raised on a bed of precious stones in the shape of a column, with several smaller golden balls at its feet.

It was born to be given to the best player ever. Players such as Alfredo di Stéfano, Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini competed for the award. All of them had won the Ballon d'Or more than once.

Di Stefano got the most votes. His 2 Ballon d'Ors prevailed over the 3 won by Cruyff and Platini. And in this way, Alfredo di Stéfano became the first, and until now the only one, to win the Super Ballon d'Or.

December 2, 2018

It isn't the only expectional Ballon d'Or given out, although it is the most striking. In 1995, after the rules changed so that non European players in Europe could win it, an honorary award was given to Diego Maradona for obvoius reasons.

Another honorary one was given to Pelé in January 2014, when the award was shared between FIFA and 'France Football', because of his career and his contribution to football.

It doesn't seem likely that 'France Football' will give out the Super Ballon d'Or again, not even to decide who has been the best player between 1990 and 2019. There is too much at stake to risk it with an even more controversial prize than the normal one.