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The Ballon d'Or is acknowledged to be the most prestigious individual award in world football. However, its widespread popularity is a relatively recent development, and the award has seen its fair share of controversy in the past.
Contrary to popular belief, the Ballon d'Or wasn't always considered world football's most important individual award. Apart from a brief period between 2010 and 2015, football's international governing body (FIFA) has awarded its own 'World Player of the Year' award since 1991.
Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d'Or award has been awarded by the French news magazine France Football. While the FIFA World Player of the Year, now known as 'The Best' award, is chosen through a vote of coaches and players, the Ballon d'Or voters are journalists, and all national team captains and coaches.
When did the Ballon d'Or become popular?
Until 1995, the Ballon d'Or award was restricted to players from European leagues. The award only opened up to global players in 2007. In 2010, FIFA and France Football magazine agreed to merge both awards and present the FIFA Ballon d'Or. This partnership lasted till 2016, and is the period when the Ballon d'Or gained worldwide popularity.
The award has led to intense debate in the football community in recent years, but the Ballon d'Or has been generating controversy since the 90s. Many legends of the game have slammed the award for ignoring keepers, defenders and midfielders in favour of strikers and goalscorers.
The Ballon d'Or is also increasingly criticised for prioritising team brilliance and trophies over individual performances. On that note, here are five football legends who have spoken against the award over the years:
#5 Johan Cryuff
Dutch and Barcelona legend Johan Cryuff is one of the greatest players in history. The late midfielder won three Ballon d'Or awards (1971,1973,1974) in the space of four years.
Despite being a winner himself, Cryuff slammed the Ballon d'Or in 2014 after Cristiano Ronaldo won it for a second consecutive year.
"At the highest level, it's all about the combination of individual quality and achievements. From that point of view, it's absurd that for the second year in a row a player has been given the award who did not both play excellent and win the most trophies. Let this be clear, I cannot take this Fifa award seriously anymore," he wrote.
"Personally, I'm not in the least bit interested in the Ballon d'Or. It's a media circus. Everybody votes for their own man. Things should make sense in making one decision or another. It isn't like that now. Therefore, we have to accept it for what it is, and then just do whatever we want", said Cruyff.
While Cryuff did not deny Ronaldo's excellence, he claimed Toni Kroos would have been a more deserving winner after his exploits with Bayern Munich and Germany.
#4 Philipp Lahm
After Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014, it was Lionel Messi's win in 2016 that came under the scanner. German legend Philipp Lahm criticised the Ballon d'Or, labelling it a 'popularity contest for strikers' and the world's 'most visible players'.
Lahm also pointed out that Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro's win in 2006 remained the only time a true defender had won the Ballon d'Or award in its history.
"I believe that when Fifa hands out an award, it should not be a marketing prize that solely honours the protagonists of a media-crazy sport. Maybe there shouldn't be an individual award in a team sport but (in addition to the world XI) four single awards for best goalkeeper, best defender, best midfielder and best striker instead," he wrote for Goal.
#3 Luis Figo
The legendary Luis Figo won the 2000 Ballon d'Or award in controversial circumstances. Most fans expected the prize to go Zinedine Zidane, who led France to Euro 2000 glory, and was named the best player of the tournament. However, Figo dominated the headlines after an excellent club season and one of the most controversial transfers in history - a move from Barcelona to Real Madrid.
Years later, Figo suggested France Football got it wrong, and surprisingly claimed Francesco Totti of AS Roma should have won the award. Figo also spoke out against Luka Modric's 2018 Ballon d'Or win, suggesting Sergio Ramos was more deserving of the title.
"It's clear that Sergio Ramos deserves to win the Ballon d'Or. Being a defender is almost like being a goalkeeper; it's a lot more difficult to win the award, but Cannavaro managed it. It depends on the moment, on the year, but for quality alone, it's obvious that Ramos should win it," said Figo.
#2 Arsene Wenger
Arsenal's legendary manager Arsene Wenger has made no secret of his disapproval of the Ballon d'Or award. He first commented on the prize in 2015, saying he was completely against it.
“I would not vote for any Ballon d’Or. I’m totally against it. I’m a team lover and a specialist of somebody who loves team work. I’m completely against it. I would not vote for anybody,” said the former Arsenal boss in 2015.
A year later, Wenger hit out at France Football and the Ballon d'Or again. The former Monaco manager opined that the award was not objective, and blamed it for getting into the heads of players.
"I am against it because I think it gets in the head of players. I believe football is a collective sport, and we already live in a world where everything is individualised. We have seen many people only thinking about themselves because they are obsessed with the Ballon d'Or and not by the team performance," he added in 2016.
#1 Franck Ribery
The Ballon d'Or award's most vicious criticism has come from France winger and Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery. It all began in 2013, when Ribery finished third, behind Lionel Messi and winner Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d'Or race.
Bayern Munich and Ribery had just won an incredible treble, which meant the winger had silverware on his side. With 34 goal contributions in the Bavarian's season, he was also clearly the best player in the best team.
If that wasn't enough, Ribery was also named UEFA's European Player of the Year for 2012-13, beating both Messi and Ronaldo. But he didn't win the Ballon d'Or award that year.
The 2013 Ballon d'Or is regarded as one of the most controversial in the award's history, and Ribery has not held back. These are just some of his comments on the snub:
"I'm not sad, but it hurts the heart. Do not get me wrong, I am proud to have been there. I feel I deserved this title. There is so much politics."
"I saw myself as the Ballon d'Or. It's the truth. Even today, I think I deserved it. I still haven't digested it. I did everything to have it. I ticked all the boxes. I won all I could win with Bayern. I couldn't do better! I had a very, very, very big personal year. I had nothing to envy to Ronaldo or Messi for, that year. I really took a big hit on the head. I experienced this third place as a terrible injustice. I asked the question 10,000 times: why not me? The more I thought, the more I was disgusted. All was not clear," said Ribery years later.
The Frenchman also lashed out in 2014, when Cristiano Ronaldo won the award ahead of Messi, as well as Ribery's club teammates Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben.
"I saw how Sepp Blatter was hugging Ronaldo and how his entire family was there. I'm not stupid. It was clear that he had to win it. He wouldn't have brought his entire family with him otherwise. It will be the same this year."
"What can I say about it? Manuel Neuer or Arjen Robben should win it. You can't disagree with this. But I fear it will be about politics again. The Ballon d'Or is no longer for the best player. It's all about politics," said Ribery in an astonishing rant.
