Terms: |Ballon DOr| |Football| |Football History|

Published: 5. 5. 2026.

The very first Ballon d’Or was awarded in 1956, at a time when the prize was still limited to European footballers. The winner was an English legend famous for his longevity, elegance, and close control, and he received the award while playing for Blackpool. Who was the first player ever to win the Ballon d’Or?

Sir Stanley Matthews