What is the Super Ballon d’Or? Many have asked this on Google after Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup with Argentina.
The 35-year-old won his second World Cup Golden Ball due to his phenomenal displays in Qatar, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists in just seven games to win the ultimate prize for his country.
Messi’s efforts have since earned him the FIFA Men’s Player of 2022 award at the Best Awards.
Now, the South American could be about to win yet another ultimate prize, this time an individual award in the form of the prestigious Super Ballon d’Or, which thousands have never heard of given its rarity.
So, what is the Super Ballon d’Or? Let’s take a look…
What is the Super Ballon d’Or?
Well, the Super Ballon d’Or has only ever been handed out once in the history of football, and is believed to be given to the best performing footballer of the past 30 years – if there is a player worthy of winning it.
The legendary Alfredo di Stefano is the only recipient of the award, lifting the holy grail of individual titles back in 1989 after a stunning run of consistent brilliance for Real Madrid.
Interestingly, the Super Ballon d’Or was only for European players at the time, although Di Stefano was eligible to win as a result of his Spanish passport, despite the fact he was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Real Madrid legend beat Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini to the award, after helping Real Madrid win the first five consecutive European Cups back in the 1950s.
In that time, Di Stefano won two normal Ballon d’Ors, as well as one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa Latinas, eight La Liga titles, one Copa de España and a Small Club World Cup, scoring 308 goals in 396 appearances for Real Madrid.
France Football have never given the Super Ballon d’Or out since, but that could now be about to change.
As things stand, there are only rumours that Messi could become just the second player in history to win the Super Ballon d’Or, but seeing as he has now effectively completed football, it feels likely that it will happen.
The Paris Saint-Germain No.30 has won seven Ballon d’Ors throughout his remarkable career, scoring a total of 799 goals while also providing 388 assists in 1,025 games for club and country.
In our view, Messi has far surpassed Di Stefano’s achievements, and it would be baffling if France Football do not commemorate his spectacularly unique career with the Super Ballon d’Or.
Lionel Messi profile
Full name: Lionel Andres Messi
Age: 35
Date of birth: 24th June 1987
Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Nationality: Argentina
Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Position: Forward
Salary: £1,893,576-a-week
Net worth: £600m
Wife: Antonela Roccuzzo
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