JAKARTA - The Ballon d'Or is the highest award for an individual in world football. The Ballon d'Or is the most eagerly awaited to determine the world's best player. However, in the past the Ballon d'Or was shrouded in controversy. Those who win must be Europeans. There is no place for big names like Maradonna (Argentina) and Pele (Brazil). George Weah (Liberia) broke that tradition. He became the first non-European to win the Ballon d'Or.
In the 1950s, prestigious awards for football players were few – if not nil. That fact made a journalist from the magazine France Football, Gabriel Hanot nervous. He wants an award for the best European player every season.
Without waiting too long, Gabriel Hanot initiated an award for the best European player. In his hands, the most prestigious award in the world of football was born. The Ballon d'Or is his name.
The award was held for the first time in 1956. Gabriel Hanot, who is also an important brain of the birth of the European Champions League, then asked his fellow journalists to choose the nominees and winners of the Ballon d'Or. Stanley Matthews of England team Blackpool emerges as the first ever Ballon d'Or winner.
The victory made Stanley Matthews' popularity increase. Stanley Matthews' name was mentioned by the mass media throughout the country. His face was plastered a lot on the front pages of newspapers. Matthews at that time, like an important figure in the history of world football.
“Ballon d'Or, or 'golden ball' in English, is the name given in French by France Football magazine to football players. The winners were chosen by 96 journalists from around the world. They become the best judges every year. The Ballon d'Or was first awarded by France Football in 1956."
“This award is then considered one of the most prestigious awards in the world. Although this award was originally only given to European players. the first person to win it was Stanley Matthews from Blackpool, England,” said Tom Dunmore in the book Historical Dictionary of Soccer (2011).
Stanley Matthews' fame as a European player who won the Ballon d'Or inspired other footballers to step up the game. The effect is that the competition among European football players is getting tougher. The goal machines of each European team appear on the map of the candidates for the Ballon d'Or. Among those names is Real Madrid striker, Alfredo Di Stéfano.
The Spanish player immediately stepped on the gas. He later became Stanley Matthews' successor to the Ballon d'Or. Di Stefano's achievement was none other than he managed to bring Real Madrid to the Spanish League title from 1956-1957. The presence of the Ballon d'Or in Di Stefano's career means a lot. The Ballon d'Or title confirms that he is one of the best players of all time. Even Di Stefano has not only won the Ballon d'Or once, but twice.
“The Ballon d'or jury said Alfredo Di Stefano was the Charles Chaplin of the gridiron. To that end, football fans celebrated Di Stefano's struggles. He is predicted to be a great knight who is able to display interesting actions. In the language of journalists: if Stanley Matthews is light humor. So Di Stefano is epic humor."
“There was no intention of demeaning the famous Matthews. Matthews was not angry when he handed his title to a player he respects: Di Stefano. Matthews knows Di Stefano, and he considers Di Stefano a football player who has character and intelligence. The proof is that his possession of the ball is quite complete," wrote Ian Hawkey in the book Di Stefano (2016).
From Europe to the world
The Ballon d'Or was initially shrouded in controversy. Because all the elements in the Ballon d'Or awarding scheme are European. European players, European judges, and held on the European continent. Similar to the jargon of democracies: from European journalists, by Europeans, to European players.
For those born outside the European continent, there is no hope of winning the Ballon d'Or. In fact, Diego Armando Maradona's class, then Pele could not qualify to win the Ballon d'Or. The reason is easy to guess. Both are not from Europe. Even though, Maradonna has played in Europe, including Barcelona (Spain), Sevilla (Spain), and Napoli (Italy).
"It should be noted that the best European players who can receive the Ballon d'Or award are European players who play for European clubs, not just those who play for European clubs. Feeling racist? May be. But we need not discuss this matter at length. In short, Stanley Matthews, who was playing at Blackpool at that time, became the first footballer to win the Ballon d'Or award,” explained Eddward S. Kennedy in the book Soccer A Thousand Commentaries (2014).
The all-European rule of the Ballon d'Or lasted from 1956 to 1994. In 1995, the Ballon d'Or award began to undergo major changes. The organizers, France Football then decided to change the rules. France Football says the Ballon d'Or has officially decided no matter what nationality, as long as they play for a European club, they have the right to be strong candidates for the Ballon d'Or.
The decision was made even more final when the Ballon d'Or jury chose AC Milan star George Weah as the first non-European to win the award. Giving the award to Weah was none other than the Liberian star playing well with Inter Milan. Weah's victory also opened up opportunities for other non-European footballers to become the world's best players. Including winning the Ballon d'Or.
A new breakthrough was also made by France Football in 2007. They again changed the regulations to get the Ballon d'Or award. This change is an opportunity for players from all over the world – regardless of their nationality and professional club – to win the Ballon d'Or. That is, the Ballon d'Or has become a complete celebration that gives awards to the world's best players.
“George Weah is one of the best players I have ever seen playing personally. He can run at full speed and dribble like he is walking. Nothing can stop it."
"When people talk about the greatest player of all time, he often forgets because he didn't play in the world cup. He is the only African player to ever win the FIFA Ballon d'Or. For me, George Weah is on the same podium – level – with Pele and Diego Maradona. And if he's English or French, the world will put him there too," concludes Dwayne De Rosario in Dero: My Life (2021).
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