Is Ballon d’Or Losing Its Value as the Most Prestigious Award?

Published 10/27/2023, 1:37 PM EDT

The Ballon d’Or has long been the pinnacle of individual recognition in the world of soccer. Over more than six decades, this prestigious award has graced the hands of legendary players. From Lionel Messi’s potential record-quadruple victories to Lev Yashin being the sole goalkeeper to claim the honor, the coveted award has witnessed many historical wins. Throughout its storied history, the Ballon d’Or has been a captivating symbol of excellence, earning the admiration of the entire soccer community.

However, in recent years, there has been a radical shift in the perception of the Ballon d’Or. Once hailed as the holy accolade, it now finds itself embroiled in controversy and diminishing significance. What has led to this erosion of the award’s reputation? How has a cherished symbol of soccer greatness lost its merit in the hearts of the soccer community? These questions beckon us to explore the changing landscape of the Ballon d’Or.

Is Ballon d’Or losing its value?

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As time flies by, things depreciate. Regrettably, it has become a similar case for the Ballon d’Or. Once considered a holy grail, the much-hyped award fails to showcase its authority. To give you a clear context, some of the high-way robberies of player is eye-opening. There have been times when soccer stars got robbed. Instead, it went to the player who was not a fan’s favorite to win.

Just yesterday, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry spoke about missing out on his 2003 Ballon d’Or. The Frenchman had a spectacular season with the Gunners, scoring 32 goals and creating 28 assists. However, the award went to Juventus star Pavel Nedved, who had scored just 14 goals and 11 assists. Guess what? Nedved didn’t even win the Champions League. AC Milan won it, as Paolo Maldini finished third in the standings.

Another notable instance is the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or, triumphed by the quintuple winner Cristiano Ronaldo. While CR7’s 70+ goals may back his achievement, one has to raise an eyebrow after seeing the other contenders, especially Frank Ribery. The Frenchman finished third behind Messi, which irked the soccer fraternity. Given the Ballon d’Or’s tendency to prioritize team accomplishments over individual feats, Ribery’s exceptional season with Bayern Munich deserved a mention. He played a pivotal role in their historic treble, scoring 22 goals and 18 assists, which should have made him a clear winner. Yet the award went the other way.

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The Ballon d’Or’s criteria for selecting winners appear contradictory. It suggests, at times, that the voting patterns exhibit inconsistency. It has a bias toward well-known players, both in recent instances and throughout the award’s history.

Has voting changed the course of the grand prize?

The explained instances are just a few examples of the Ballon d’Or’s regrettable injustices towards players. Now, let’s examine how changes in the voting system have transformed the landscape. Before 2007, only journalists had a say in nominating Ballon d’Or candidates. However, since then, coaches and national team captains have also been granted the privilege of voting.

Yet, there have been instances when Argentinian journalists voted for Messi, while the same bias might apply to Ronaldo and other stars. In fact, in 2019, Passan Norbu, a Bhutanese journalist, made an unconventional choice in the Ballon d’Or voting by not selecting Messi or Lewandowski as his top pick. Instead, he placed Sadio Mane at the top of his list, followed by Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson, and Roberto Firmino.

Similarly, Gustave Samnick from Cameroon also opted to vote for specific candidates like Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Alisson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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These unusual votes suggest that the voting system is the biggest problem for the Ballon d’Or. Given these consecutive injustices, the soccer community is becoming increasingly vigilant. It has led them to withdraw their interest in this prestigious award.

Will the 2023 Ballon d’Or outcome shape the award’s future?

With the 2023 edition set to take place in a few days, we reckon that it may also create another potential conspiracy. Despite notable nominees, the spotlight is on two stars, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

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On one side, Haaland has created a strong case for himself to win the award. Aside from winning the treble with Manchester City in a historic season, the 23-year-old also outclassed everyone in terms of individual success, notching 52 goals and nine assists in 53 appearances. On the other hand, there is Messi, who scored 42 goals and 26 assists. He won the historic World Cup with Argentina and the Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions with PSG.

Kylian Mbappe is another star backed to win. The French Bugatti will be coming to the Théâtre du Châtelet with his two domestic trophies and the World Cup Golden Boot. Although some argue that Messi’s World Cup victory should not overshadow Haaland’s remarkable season, others firmly believe that La Pulga should claim his 8th win.

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The number of engaging debates regarding the ultimate winner of the grand prize will surely increase. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the outcome of this year’s event will have a lasting impact on the award’s future. Nevertheless, it’s time for concerned authorities to step up and start, and keep its prestige intact. The 2023 Ballon d’Or will shape the future perception of the awards.

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Written by:

Abhishek Mishra is an experienced soccer writer at EssentiallySports. His early exposure to playing soccer earned him many accolades at zonal and district levels, making him a true sports enthusiast. As a die-hard fan of Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona, Abhishek's knowledge of European soccer is impeccable.

Edited by:

Jacob Gijy

Is Ballon d’Or Losing Its Value as the Most Prestigious Award?

Is Ballon d’Or losing its value?

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Has voting changed the course of the grand prize?

Will the 2023 Ballon d’Or outcome shape the award’s future?