Stanley Matthews of Britain was the debut victor of the Ballon d'Or.[7] Before 2007, the honor was by and large known as the mainland European Footballer of the Year grant in English language and much worldwide media. Indeed, even after 2007, it was generally related to and alluded to by that name due to its starting point as an European honor, until it was converged with FIFA's Reality Player grant solidifying its new overall claim.[8][9][10][11] Liberia's George Weah, the main African beneficiary, turned into the principal non-European to win the honor in 1995, the year that principles of qualification were changed.[4] Ronaldo of Brazil turned into the primary South American victor two years later.[4]

Lionel Messi has won the honor a record multiple times, trailed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five. Three players have won the honor multiple times each: Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten. With seven honors every, Dutch, German, Argentine, Portuguese and French players have won the most Ballons d'Or. Players from Germany (1972, 1981) and the Netherlands (1988) involved the best three best positions in a solitary year (an accomplishment accomplished just multiple times ever). German (1972) and Italian (1988-1990) clubs accomplished similar accomplishment, including two individual years overwhelmed by AC Milan players (1988, 1989), an extraordinary record until Spanish clubs encountered an unanticipated strength (2009-2012, 2015, 2016) and Barcelona (2010) turned into the second club to possess the main three. Two Spanish clubs, Barcelona and Genuine Madrid, additionally lead the positioning for delivering the most champs, with 12 successes each.[12]

Somewhere in the range of 2010 and 2015 comprehensive, the honor was converged with a comparative one, the FIFA World Player of the Year grant, to make the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which was granted to the world's best male player before FIFA and France Football chose not to proceed with the combining agreement.[13] After 2011, UEFA made the UEFA Best Player in Europe Grant to keep up with the practice of the first Ballon d'Or of explicitly respecting a football player from Europe.[14]

In 2020, the Gathering L'équipe, to which France Football has a place, concluded that no honor would be allowed for the year because of the Coronavirus pandemic stopping the times of football clubs worldwide.[15] The far reaching general assessment is that the 2020 honor ought to have been given to Robert Lewandowski.[16][17][18]

The honor shows a predisposition for going after players, which has expanded lately, particularly after 2007.[2] Over the long run, the honor has gone to a more selective arrangement of associations and clubs.[2] Preceding 1995, 10 associations provided Ballon d'Or champs, though just Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have provided victors since 1995.[2] Spain's La Liga has the most Ballon d'Or winners.[2] Barcelona and Genuine Madrid have provided the most Ballon d'Or victors since 1995.[2]

In 2022, France Football changed the principles for the Ballon d'Or. They changed the timing so that grants were given not so much for accomplishments during a schedule year, but rather for a football season.[6] It was likewise concluded that main those nations in the main 100 of the FIFA World Positioning would be permitted to cast a ballot. The plebiscite had recently been available to all nations starting around 2007. This aligned the Ballon d'Or with the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Grant which was somewhat less overwhelmed by select associations and, specifically, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in ongoing years.[6]

Nine players (Bobby Charlton, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Paolo Rossi, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, and Lionel Messi) have won the FIFA World Cup, the European Cup/UEFA Champions Association, and the Ballon d'Or during their professions.