Who has won the prestigious Super Ballon d‘Or?
The Super Ballon d‘Or is one of the rarest and most coveted prizes in football. Unlike the annual Ballon d‘Or awarded since 1956, the Super Ballon d‘Or recognizes sustained greatness over an entire career. But only one football legend has ever won this prestigious honor.
Alfredo Di Stéfano – The Greatest Player of His Era
In 1989, the Argentine-born Spanish striker Alfredo Di Stéfano was awarded the inaugural Super Ballon d‘Or trophy by France Football magazine. He was voted the best player in the world for the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by a jury of experts and Ballon d‘Or winners.
Di Stéfano is regarded as one of the most complete and dominant footballers ever. Over his illustrious 24 year career, he scored 377 goals in 510 club matches playing for the likes of River Plate, Millonarios Bogota and Real Madrid. The "Blond Arrow" guided Real Madrid to five straight European Cup victories in the 1950s – a feat no club has replicated since.
"Alfredo Di Stéfano changed the history of football. He was one of the greatest athletes I ever saw." – Ferenc Puskás, Real Madrid legend.
His creative attacking play, goalscoring prowess with either foot, aerial ability and versatility to play across the frontline or midfield makes Di Stéfano one of the most well-rounded players of all time. He possessed technical brilliance combined with stamina, leadership and winning mentality.
Di Stéfano‘s impact elevated Spanish football and shaped Real Madrid into the preeminent European club they remain today. His era-defining excellence rightly earned him the Super Ballon d‘Or to cement his legacy as the sport‘s first truly global superstar.
Could Lionel Messi win the next Super Ballon d‘Or?
In the modern era, no player can match the sustained brilliance of Lionel Messi. He is the standout favorite to win the Super Ballon d‘Or if France Football decides to award it again.
The Argentine maestro has won a record seven Ballon d‘Or trophies. He recently led his nation to a long-awaited World Cup triumph in 2022. Messi has also won 35 club honors at Barcelona including 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League crowns.
With over 750 goals and 350 assists for Barca, he holds numerous records including most goals for a single club (674). Messi has been La Liga top scorer eight times and Champions League top scorer six times. No player has dominated in both domestic and European competitions for as long.
“For me, Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time” – Arsene Wenger, legendary football manager.
The sheer playmaking genius, dribbling skills, vision and consistency that Messi has maintained since 2004 is unmatched in football history. Very few athletes have combined outrageous natural talent with relentless work ethic like Messi. He has crafted his style of play into arguably the most complete offensive force the game has seen.
Now a World Cup winner, Messi has the achievements to back up a claim as the greatest across three decades. If the Super Ballon d‘Or returned, his footballing legacy may be rewarded with its second-ever winner.
Messi vs Ronaldo – Stats and Achievements Comparison
| Statistic | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Ballon d‘Or wins | 7 | 5 |
| FIFA Best Player awards | 1 | 2 |
| FIFA World Cups | 1 | 0 |
| UEFA Champions Leagues | 4 | 5 |
| League titles | 10 | 7 |
| Career goals | 793 | 819 |
| Career assists | 343 | 231 |
| International goals | 98 | 118 |
The only player who comes close to Messi‘s sustained success is Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The raw numbers show Ronaldo has scored more goals in his career across all competitions. He has also led clubs like Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United to league and European glory.
However, Messi‘s balance of individual awards, unmatched playmaking abilities and World Cup victory give him the edge. Ronaldo‘s lack of international success with Portugal and playing a less well-rounded game than Messi are marks against him.
Both legends have rewritten the record books and pushed each other to new heights over the past decade and more. But if just one player could be honored with the Super Ballon d‘Or for this era, the signs point towards Messi taking that honor.
Criteria and Voting Process for the Coveted Award
France Football magazine organized the one-time Super Ballon d‘Or vote in 1989. A jury of respected football journalists, former players and Ballon d‘Or winners selected Di Stéfano as the winner. He won 144 out of 150 votes based on his phenomenal career spanning the 1960s to 1980s.
To win the Super Ballon d‘Or, a player must demonstrate:
- Exceptional ability, talent and skills that redefine the sport
- Sustained dominance for over a decade at the pinnacle of football
- Winning major trophies and setting records on the biggest stages
- GLOBAL fame, influence and iconic status that transcends football
If France Football conducts another Super Ballon d‘Or vote, the winner may be decided by:
- Shortlist compiled of top performing players in past 3 decades
- Voting committee of Ballon d‘Or and World Cup winners
- Secondary vote open to journalists and national team captains/coaches
- Criteria focused on individual stats, trophy hauls and global impact
There would surely be intense debate between Messi and Ronaldo supporters before the final vote. But based on both quantifiable achievements and more subjective assessments of greatness, the signs point to Messi as the rightful modern heir to Di Stéfano for the prestigious Super Ballon d‘Or.
The Historic Trophy Design and Auction Sale
The original Super Ballon d‘Or trophy awarded to Di Stéfano consisted of a gilded football on a blue pyrite base. It measured approximately 23 cm wide and 31 cm high, weighing 7.4 kg in a classic Ballon d‘Or style.
This historic trophy was proudly displayed for decades at Real Madrid‘s Santiago Bernabeu museum. In June 2021, Di Stéfano‘s family put the trophy up for auction, where it sold to an undisclosed buyer for £187,500 ($250,000). This demonstrates the tremendous financial value and collectability around football‘s most iconic prize.
If Messi or another legend ever wins the Super Ballon d‘Or, France Football would likely create a new bespoke trophy. But it would retain the golden ball design that makes this honor so instantly recognizable and desirable to players. For any footballer, having their name etched on the Super Ballon d‘Or alongside Di Stéfano would represent the pinnacle of the sport.
The Super Ballon d‘Or is football‘s rarest individual prize representing sustained greatness over an entire career. Only Alfredo Di Stéfano has won it so far back in 1989. But if France Football resurrects this award, Lionel Messi seems destined to be the next winner based on his era-defining brilliance for both Barcelona and Argentina.
Winning the 2022 World Cup cemented Messi‘s legacy as the greatest of his generation. now immortalized in football history. There is no honour bigger than the Super Ballon d‘Or still missing from Messi‘s trophy cabinet. For the sport‘s modern icon to join Di Stéfano as the only two recipients would feel like a fitting crowning achievement to Messi‘s continuing ascendance into the pantheon of football legends.