Since its inception in 1956 by the French magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or has become the most coveted individual honor in European football, shaping narratives about player greatness for nearly seven decades.
A New Era for the Ballon d’Or
Michael Owen’s 2001 triumph marked the last time an Englishman lifted the trophy, a milestone that signaled a broader cultural shift as the award began to attract a more global audience and greater commercial interest.
The 2025 edition saw Ousmane Dembele clinch the prize, a moment that generated unprecedented online buzz, including 19 million views on X and a surge of one million new followers on his Instagram account, while Adidas rolled out a coordinated social‑media campaign to amplify his celebration.
Dembele’s success also bolstered Paris Saint‑Germain’s stature, as his contributions were pivotal in the club’s recent Champions League campaign, reinforcing the French side’s expanding global fanbase and commercial appeal.
The award’s voting mechanism, which asks journalists from the top 100 FIFA‑ranked nations to rank their ten favorite players, fuels ongoing speculation; Dembele’s 73 first‑place votes highlighted both his on‑field excellence and the growing influence of personal branding in modern football.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s departures from their long‑standing clubs have opened space for a new generation of superstars to vie for the honor, underscoring how the Ballon d’Or now sits at the intersection of sport, marketing, and celebrity culture, mirroring trends seen in basketball’s MVP awards and other individual accolades.