Ballon d’Or gala returns to England honouring inaugural winner Stanley Matthews
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is being held in England for the first time in decades, at London’s Palladium, in tribute to Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner in 1956. The move revives attention on Matthews’ pioneering career and marks the contrast between the award’s modest beginnings in Blackpool and its status as a major football event.
Matthews was 41 when he received the first award at Blackpool town hall, and remains the oldest winner. He earned 54 England caps, won a knighthood in 1965 and continued playing until he was 50; his son says his training, lightweight boots and attention to pitch conditions were ahead of their time. Players’ wages were capped at £20 a week for much of Matthews’ career, and he supplemented his income through business ventures and overseas coaching.
In short
- The Ballon d’Or returns to England in tribute to Stanley Matthews.
- Matthews won the first award in 1956, aged 41.
- He played until 50 and pioneered new training methods.
Explained simply
The Ballon d’Or is an annual award for the world’s leading footballer, chosen by journalists. It began in 1956, when France Football magazine created it to recognise the best player in Europe; its reach and profile have since grown.
Stanley Matthews was an English winger known for his skill and long career. He won 54 caps for England, was knighted in 1965 and kept playing until he was 50. In 1956, aged 41, he became the award’s first winner and remains its oldest.
Football was very different during Matthews’ career: players’ wages were capped at £20 a week for much of that time. He supplemented his income through business ventures and overseas coaching, while his training and equipment choices reflected his attention to fitness and playing conditions.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Ballon d’Or ceremony returns to England in nod to ‘revolutionary’ Stanley Matthews”.