would possibly battle to win the traditional Ballon d’Or on the ceremony in London in October – even when safe a second successive World Cup this summer time.
The South American didn’t even end within the prime 30 final trip as his former teammate was named the best participant on the planet, having scored 35 objectives and assisted one other 16 in 53 video games to assist win the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
Commercial
was harmed by the very fact he performs for in Main League Soccer – and subsequently can not compete for the UEFA Champions League – however the Argentina worldwide ought to nonetheless safe the celebrated Tremendous Ballon d’Or if France Soccer choose to launch one other version of the uncommon prize.
What’s the Tremendous Ballon d’Or?
The Ballon d’Or is a yearly award offered by France Soccer – however solely as soon as in historical past have the organisation handed out a Tremendous Ballon d’Or.
France Soccer determined to create the Tremendous Ballon d’Or to recognise the best footballer of the previous three a long time, awarding the distinctive trophy to Alfredo Di Stefano again in December 1989. That call was made by France Soccer judges and in addition by votes from former Ballon d’Or winners.
Commercial
You could possibly solely be eligible to win the Tremendous Ballon d’Or in the event you had gained the traditional Ballon d’Or on a number of events.
For years, the Tremendous Ballon d’Or trophy was on show contained in the museum on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Nevertheless, the present location of the trophy is unknown, after Di Stefano’s youngsters allegedly auctioned off his uncommon prize to a collector in 2021 for the sum of £187,500.
The Actual Madrid legend beat Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini to the Tremendous Ballon d’Or – the Dutchman and the Frenchman completed second and third within the voting respectively.
It was an award made just for European gamers on the time, which is why the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona weren’t named within the working.
Commercial
Di Stefano was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, however managed to win the award because of his Spanish passport.
It’s unclear whether or not France Soccer would persist with having the Tremendous Ballon d’Or reserved just for European gamers in the event that they determined to launch one other version of the prize – however we extremely doubt there could be such discrimination within the trendy period.
Photograph by Actual Madrid through Getty Photos
The official Ballon d’Or account on X (beforehand generally known as Twitter) teased the prospect of one other Tremendous Ballon d’Or again in June 2025 by asking their followers to pick out a hypothetical winner.
Why Lionel Messi deserves the Tremendous Ballon d’Or
With all due respect to Di Stefano, Messi – who faces Algeria in his first recreation of the 2026 World Cup – has fully and completely dwarfed his achievements throughout the final three a long time.
Commercial
Since making his aggressive debut for Barcelona in October 2004 on the age of 17, the Inter Miami No.10 has remarkably gained the UEFA Champions League on 4 events, together with one World Cup, ten La Liga titles and eight Ballon d’Or trophies – in addition to lots extra silverware, made up of each private accomplishments and crew successes.
Individually, with a beautiful gesture forward of the 2026 World Cup – has scored 800 objectives and supplied 390 assists in 979 appearances at membership degree, together with 117 objectives in 199 video games for Argentina on the time of writing.
Photograph by Julian Finney/Getty Photos
Di Stefano did win 5 consecutive European Cups with Actual Madrid, however gained simply two Ballon d’Or trophies compared to Messi – additionally recording fewer aim involvements by netting 321 occasions in 449 video games at membership degree.
Commercial
There are rumours that France Soccer might unveil one other Tremendous Ballon d’Or in 2029 – 40 years after Di Stefano’s success in 1989.
If that does occur, it can certainly have Messi’s identify throughout it.