Soccer players around the world have the chance to rack up personal accolades. Their contributions and efforts are recognized each season, with players having the chance to snap up awards at the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best award ceremonies. Both awards have their own value, with players eager to get their hands on the coveted awards.

Over the years, the Ballon d’Or has become the symbol of excellence. Fans tout the golden ball sculpture as the pinnacle of individual awards a player can receive during a calendar year. While they also give FIFA The Best award to the finest player in the world for a particular calendar year, some notable differences separate the two awards.

1. History of the Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or is arguably the oldest active soccer award, handed first in 1956. The France Football Association hosts the award, as they have been hosting it for the last 67 years. In comparison, FIFA’s The Best awards are new, with the current iteration introduced in 2016.

2. Voting

There are considerable differences when voting for the winner of the two awards. A hundred journalists from the Top 100 countries in the world decide the Ballon d’Or award winner nominating their top three picks. Meanwhile, the first nomination receives 5 points, the second receives three, and the third-placed nomination is given a single point. They total the points at the end, with the player accumulating the most points adjudged as the winner.

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FIFA’s The Best, on the other hand, is a scant democratic per se. FIFA takes votes from national team coaches, national team captains, journalists, and fans and announces the player with the most votes as the winner.

However, the two parties shared the same award and voting system earlier. Both FIFA and the France FA joined hands to host the award in 2010. The two then used a joint player and journalist voting system to determine the winner. The two parties decided to part ways after a five-year partnership in 2015. While the Ballon d’Or reclaimed its old ways, FIFA took the chance to announce The Best Awards in 2016.

3. Schedule of the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best

Another primary difference between the awards is their time of distribution. While they hand over the Ballon d’Or in October by assessing player performances from the last season, FIFA’s The Best follows a distinct pattern. FIFA usually schedules their award show at the start or end of a calendar year and award the player on their current form and achievements.

4. Prestige

It is weird for a fairly new soccer fan to understand why a country’s award hosts more prestige than the award ceremony conducted by soccer’s international officiating body. However, despite FIFA’s The Best being organized by a global governing body, the awards are relatively new and lack generational worth or value.

The Ballon d’Or, on the other hand, has been a symbol of pride since its inception. The award has a lot of lore and history as young soccer stars from all parts of the world dream to win the coveted award once in their career.

5. Prize

Another big difference between the two awards is the trophy given out to the winner. The current iteration of the Ballon d’Or has seen France Football present players with a lavish Golden ball placed upon a pyrite base. Meanwhile, FIFA’s Best award is a toned-down version of the World Cup trophy, with a platinum-colored base and a silver ball that sits on top.

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6. List of winners of the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best

For a long time, both FIFA and France Football have awarded the same individual with their respective set of awards. However, things have taken a turn since 2021, when the two organizations presented the award for different players. While France Football awarded the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi, FIFA awarded former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski with The Best award.

The following year again saw FIFA and France Football present the award to different individuals. They awarded Karim Benzema the Ballon d’Or for his Champions League triumph with Real Madrid. In the meantime, Lionel Messi lifted FIFA’s The Best following his World Cup win.

The current year is also likely to see a different winner. FIFA has announced Erling Haaland as a worthy recipient of the award. The Norwegian striker had a commendable season for his team, assisting them to win the treble. However, it has been reported that the player will miss out on the coveted award with La Pulga in pole position to win the award following his heroics with Argentina during the World Cup.

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