The Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best Player awards are the two most prestigious individual awards in football. They are given to recognize the outstanding performances and contributions of certain players during the football season.
In as much as both awards celebrate the best footballers in the world, there has always been a debate about which one holds more prestige.
In this article, we shall discuss which is a bigger award between the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best Player award.
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The Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or, which means “Golden Ball” in French, was introduced in 1956 by France Football Magazine. Initially, the award was only given to European players only.
However, in 1995, it was expanded to include all players around the world. The Ballon d’Or is voted by journalists, national team coaches, club captains and fans.
The Ballon d’Or was formerly awarded based on the performance of a player in the calendar year but was recently changed to be awarded based on the football season.
Throughout its history, only the greatest players have laid their hands on the award. Legends such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have all claimed this prestigious honour multiple times.
The Ballon d’Or only recognizes great players, considering not just goals and assists but also the impact a player had on their team’s success.
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FIFA The Best
FIFA introduced “The Best” award in 2016. The decision came after FIFA’s partnership with France Football ended, leading to the end of the FIFA Ballon d’Or, which had been jointly awarded since 2010.
FIFA The Best is determined by a voting process that involves national team coaches, club captains, journalists and fans.
The award looks to go deeper than the Ballon d’Or by recognizing achievements in both national team and club competitions. They include Best Men’s Player, Best Women’s Player, Best Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper, and Best Men’s and Women’s Coach, among others. This shows FIFA’s desire to recognize excellence in all areas of the game.
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Criteria For Winning Both Awards
When comparing the criteria for both awards, there are differences to be aware of. The Ballon d’Or places emphasis on individual performances, stats and impact on team success.
On the other hand, FIFA The Best takes into consideration performances in both national team and club competitions, placing greater importance on team achievements and international success.
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Which Is Bigger?
In terms of prestige and calibre, the Ballon d’Or has a longer history and is considered by many as the ultimate individual honour in football.
However, FIFA The Best Player Award is a relatively new award and has gained significance rapidly due to FIFA’s global platform and the involvement of national team captains and coaches. The inclusion of fan voting also adds to its significance, making it a more engaging award.
In a nutshell, the Ballon d’Or seem to be a bigger award for a football player than FIFA the Best award.
Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best are remarkable individual awards in the world of football. While the Ballon d’Or is seen as the biggest individual achievement with history and tradition to back it up, FIFA The Best had become a close rival, representing a broader method of honouring players in football.
Some may value the history and calibre of the Ballon d’Or, while others may appreciate the broad scope of FIFA The Best.
After discussing both of them, which do you consider a bigger award in the world of football?
