Who Was the First Ballon d’Or Winner?

Stanley Matthews was the first Ballon d’Or winner. He took the inaugural award in 1956 while playing for Blackpool.

France Football created the award that year. In the first vote, Matthews finished ahead of Alfredo Di Stéfano.

Matthews was 41 when he won, making him the oldest Ballon d’Or winner in the award’s history. For the full list of winners that followed, see our Ballon d’Or winners list.

Stanley Matthews’ 1956 Ballon d’Or

France Football launched the Ballon d’Or in 1956. Matthews was the first name engraved on it.

The award did not work like the modern Ballon d’Or. The original prize was focused on European football and was open to European players, while the eligibility rules expanded in later decades.

The voting process has also changed over the decades. The 1956 result should be understood within the rules and football landscape of its time, rather than judged by today’s format.

That context matters when looking back at the result. Matthews was the first winner of the new European football award.

How Old Was Stanley Matthews When He Won the Ballon d’Or?

Matthews was 41 years old when he won the first Ballon d’Or.

France Football identifies him as the oldest Ballon d’Or winner and notes his age at the time of the 1956 victory.

Matthews was already a veteran when the award was created, yet he was still performing at the highest level. Winning the inaugural Ballon d’Or at 41 made his achievement unusual from the beginning.

He was already a veteran when the award was created. Winning it at 41 gave the first edition a distinction that remains unmatched: no older player has won the Ballon d’Or.

His age remains part of why the 1956 award is remembered.

Which Club Did Stanley Matthews Play For When He Won the Ballon d’Or?

The answer is Blackpool. UEFA’s historical list records him as Stanley Matthews, England, Blackpool, 1956.

Matthews also played for Stoke City during his career and returned to the club later. But he represented Blackpool when he won the Ballon d’Or in 1956.

That follows a simple rule. A win is credited to the club the player represented in the year he won the award.

We use the same principle across the site. Our guide to the football clubs with the most Ballon d’Or wins tracks every award according to the club the winner represented when he won it.

Who Finished Second to Stanley Matthews?

Alfredo Di Stéfano finished second in the inaugural vote. Matthews received 47 points, while Di Stéfano finished on 44. Raymond Kopa was third with 33 points.

His place in the first result is useful context. He was already the central figure in Real Madrid’s attack as the club began its rise to dominance in European football.

He did not wait long for his own award.

• Matthews won in 1956.
• Di Stéfano won in 1957.
• Raymond Kopa won in 1958.
• Di Stéfano won again in 1959.

UEFA and France Football’s historical lists confirm that sequence.

The first runner-up became the second winner. For more on players who came close, see our guide to Ballon d’Or runners-up.

Stanley Matthews’ Ballon d’Or Record

Detail	Stanley Matthews
Ballon d’Or wins	1
Winning year	1956
Club	Blackpool
Country	England
Historical distinction	First Ballon d’Or winner
Age when he won	41
Runner-up	Alfredo Di Stéfano

What Was the Ballon d’Or Called in 1956?

What Was the Ballon d’Or Called in 1956?

The award was created by France Football in 1956 and was originally presented as the European Footballer of the Year award.

Its scope and eligibility were different from the modern Ballon d’Or. The award was initially focused on European football and European players, with its rules changing as the prize developed.

Stanley Matthews became the first winner, followed by Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1957 and Raymond Kopa in 1958.

Why Did Stanley Matthews Win the First Ballon d’Or?

There is no single documented explanation for how each voter reached their decision. Any answer has to rely on context.

Several factors stand out.

His reputation as a winger. Matthews was regarded as one of the finest wingers of his era. His standing in English football was very high.

His dribbling. His close control and movement past defenders were central to his reputation. Few players of his generation were more closely tied to that skill.

His longevity. Matthews was still performing at a high level in his forties. That consistency added weight to his name.

His form with Blackpool. He remained the key figure for a club that was competing among England’s best sides.

The documented result is clear: Matthews finished first in the inaugural vote, ahead of Di Stéfano and Kopa.

How Many Ballon d’Or Awards Did Stanley Matthews Win?

One. He won the inaugural award in 1956. He did not win it again.

The distinction matters. Some readers confuse him with players who won several times, such as Di Stéfano, Michel Platini, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

Matthews won only once. His place in Ballon d’Or history comes from being the inaugural winner, not from accumulating multiple awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Stanley Matthews was the first Ballon d’Or winner, taking the inaugural award in 1956 while representing Blackpool. He was 41 at the time, and Alfredo Di Stéfano finished second in the vote.

Matthews’ victory established the award that would later be won by some of football’s greatest players, from Di Stéfano and Johan Cruyff to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

For the complete history of the award, including every winner from Stanley Matthews in 1956 onward, see our Ballon d’Or winners list.