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UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award vs Ballon d'Or: which is the more prestigious award and why?
Sospeter Itolondo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:16 PM
Every footballer dreams of getting recognition, especially for their hard work and talent. The debate on which is the better UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award or the Ballon d'Or has been raging in the football world.
Source: Getty Images
Some footballers have won both prizes, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema, to name a few. Footballers like Ronaldo and Messi have won them both multiple times setting records straight. Both events take place annually but have different merits for giving out prizes. What is the difference between UEFA Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or?
UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award vs Ballon d'Or
Both prizes are handed to footballers who show individual brilliance influencing their teams to outperform the others. But it is good to note that both awards have differences and similarities. Here is a comparison between the Ballon d'Or vs UEFA Player of the Year awards:
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Ballon d'Or | UEFA Men's Player of the Year |
Any player in any league can win it around the world | Only footballers in UEFA countries can win the prize |
Organized by France football magazine | Organized by the UEFA governing body together with the European Sports Media group |
Established in 1956 | Established in 2011 |
Has been awarded every year apart from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic | It has never failed to be awarded since its inception |
Until 1994 only footballers with European origins could win the prize hence | Any player can win the prize if they play in UEFA zones. |
100 journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries vote for the top 5 footballers from the 30-man shortlist made | It has three voting stages where the journalists selected by the media group coaches of teams in UEFA competitions vote. They first select the top 10, then the top 3, and then the winner is announced after a live voting phase. |
Formerly footballers were merited according to their performance in the previous season between November and October, but it was revised to between August and July. | Footballers are merited according to their performance in the previous season between August and July. |
The winner is announced in October. | The winner is announced in late November or early December. |
The 30-man shortlist is announced in October | The ten-man shortlist is announced in August |
The awarding ceremony takes place in Paris, France | The awarding ceremony takes place in Monaco |
The Ballon d'Or has a golden ball design with crystals at its base. Its name translates to "golden ball" in french. | The UEFA Player of the Year Award has a shirt design. The prize winner has his name engraved on the back. |
Lionel Messi has won the most in history, having seven. Cristiano Ronaldo comes in with five awards. | Cristiano Ronaldo has won the most in history, having 3. Lionel Messi comes second with two awards. |
The trophy is worth an estimated $2920 and weighs over 7 kilograms | The dimensions are not public, but the trophy is definitely bigger than the Ballon d'Or |
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UEFA Player of the Year Award vs Ballon d'Or awards
The Ballon d'Or is the older award and the more prestigious one. The design of the Ballon d'Or is also more aesthetically pleasing. Footballers dream of winning both prizes as they are recognized for hard work and talent.
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Which is better, the UEFA Player of the Year award or the Ballon d'Or award?
It is important to note that both prizes are prestigious and a dream for any footballer to win. However, the Ballon d'Or is considered to be better than the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award since it has been around for longer. The Ballon d'Or is more widely known than the Player of the Year award. The Golden ball also pits a player against footballers worldwide, while the other prize only focuses on footballers in UEFA zones.
Why is the Ballon d'Or so prestigious?
The trophy is regarded as prestigious and only the best athletes get to win it. It is also one of the oldest awards and an aesthetically pleasing trophy. The fact that any player around the world can win it makes it even more prestigious.
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Source: Getty Images
Who won the most Ballon d'Or in history?
Lionel Messi has won the most Ballon d'Or in history. He has won seven Ballon d'Or due to his amazing performances. Cristiano Ronaldo comes in second with 5 Ballon d'Ors. Ronaldo also has the most points in the history of the Ballon d'Or.
Who won the most Men's UEFA Player of the Year Awards?
Cristiano Ronaldo won the most UEFA Player of the Year awards with three awards. He is also the only player to have won back-to-back prizes. Lionel Messi comes in a close second with two awards.
How much does a Ballon d'Or winner get?
The prize money, if there is any, for the Balon d'Or has yet to be revealed. However, footballers get bonuses according to their contracts with their teams or sponsors. The prestige that comes with the awards is considered enough prize.
Who is the last player to win the Ballon d'Or?
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Karim Benzema last won the Ballon d'Or in 2022. This is after he had a splendid performance with Real Madrid winning the Champions League, LaLiga and the Pichichi prizes. It is one of the best seasons he has ever had in his long career.
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The debate surrounding the UEFA Men's Player of the Year vs Ballon d'Or is a sumptuous one given the honour of winning the prizes. Some fans prefer the Ballon d'Or and others prefer the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award depending on which their favourite player has the most. The Ballon d'Or is more coveted by footballers due to its age.
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