Evolution of the Ballon d'Or aesthetics

This evening, Rodri is preparing to lift a Ballon d'Or that inaugurates a new era, leaving Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham on the podium behind him. The trophy held by the French magazine France Football has undergone several changes over the years, with the most important affecting the regulations. As we know, 1995 was a fundamental turning point, as the award was opened to non-European players competing in Europe. If you've ever wondered, this is why Pelé and Maradona never won the Ballon d'Or—however, in 1995, Maradona was awarded a special career Ballon d'Or by France Football.

In the evolutionary journey of this award, another watershed year was 2007, when the Ballon d'Or effectively became a global trophy: the continent of the player no longer mattered, and players could be voted for regardless of their geographic league if deemed worthy. Moreover, starting in 2007, national team coaches and captains also participated in the voting. However, in 2016, this rule was abolished, and since then, for eight years, only journalists have had a say in the voting.

Like an Oscar, an Academy Award, or a David di Donatello, the Ballon d'Or is an award that can represent the crowning achievement in a footballer’s career. After all, the careers of Pavel Nedved or Ricardo Kakà would not be the same without this trophy, which is worth €3000 and results from 100 hours of work, usually spread over six months. Over the years, therefore, the Ballon d'Or has rightly established itself as a true stage for footballers, from the most to the least extroverted: when an athlete is about to accept the Ballon d'Or, they bring their entire personality with them, choosing a careful look.

Googling the looks worn by footballers, narrowing the search from that crucial 1995 to the 2023 edition, you will notice a significant switch in terms of outfits, but this is due—once again—to substantial introductions: already in 1998, Zinedine Zidane accepted the award given to him by Gerard Hernau in front of a packed room, whereas the background for George Weah, the only African player to have won the Ballon d'Or, was different.

The Best Ballon d'Or Outfits

The 1995 awards ceremony is particularly symbolic because it highlights the differences compared to the older editions (until around 2007), in which official ceremonies were followed by dedicated photoshoots, during which players often changed outfits. In the last thirty years of award ceremonies, no one has sported an iconic look like George Weah's: a traditional suit decorated with a Ghanaian pattern from the Akan tribe, which means "except God." Weah's second name, Oppong, is indeed of Ghanaian origin.

In the history of the Ballon d'Or, there have been other memorable outfits, such as Luis Figo's in 2000: a black blazer and a red shirt, a combination that is not seen very often. Also noteworthy is the look chosen by Roberto Baggio for the cover shoot for France Football, featuring a green cardigan and a plaid shirt—quite an original choice compared to the sober looks of Rivaldo and Matthias Sammer.

In the last fifteen years, with the rise of digital media and the transformation of traditional media, the paper covers of France Football have lost some of their appeal, increasingly giving way to live streaming of the award ceremonies, which still manage to generate significant interest in the dense annual sports calendar. As a result, there is also less interest from the magazine in producing particularly original cover shots. This change has led to an aesthetic that is certainly less exciting, leaving us to settle for Lionel Messi's polka dot suit from 2013 and Luka Modric's bow tie.