The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious award a soccer player can earn in a calendar year. Many big names in the history of the sport have lifted the coveted title. While the award has changed forms over the years, it still keeps its base look in check. Any soccer fan around the world would just need one look at the coveted piece of silverware to recognize it as the Ballon d’Or. With Lionel Messi likely set to lift the title for the 8th time in his career, let’s have a look at all the details surrounding the coveted award.

Ballon d’Or: Details – Prize, Cost, Weight, Etc

Many emerging players over the years have dreamed about winning the Ballon d’Or in their careers. The award was first presented in 1956  and was won by Sir Stanley Mattews. Since then, the award has been a mark of prestige for individual achievements. The current iteration of the award was designed by François Mellerio. The award is decided by voting, as 100 top journalists from FIFA’s top hundred nations vote for the best player of the year.

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Despite the big prestige, there is no prize money attached to the award. However, that does not mean that Ballon d’Or winners do not have a financial motive to win the award. Over the years, players have signed different clauses in their contracts that see their club shell out a big bonus if the player wins the coveted award. Apart from their clubs, names such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have deals with their existing sportswear brands that see them making a big paycheck if they lift the title.

The Ballon d’Or award is reported to weigh twelve kilograms, with the actual award to cost between $3000 to $5300 considering the materials involved in making the award. The award stands at a height of 28 cm with a diameter of 22 cm. That begs the question, what is the award actually made of?

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Materials used in making the Ballon d’Or

While one would think that the Ballon d’Or is completely made of gold, it’s not completely true. The base of the ball is made of two brass plates soldered together and then filled with wax. Following the structuring, the ball is then chiseled to provide the structure depth. Following the early steps, the ball is then covered in 5 kilograms of 18-carat gold. The base of the award is made of pyrite and acts as a stand for the 7-kilogram ball, completing the 12-kilogram award.

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What do you think of the making process behind the Ballon d’Or? Do you think players should receive a cash award alongside the prestigious award? Let us know in the comments below.