Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro won last year's Ballon d'Or award (Franck Fife/Getty Images)
After more than half a century, soccer's most prestigious and prized individual award - the Ballon d'Or - is undergoing a major change this year.
In 1956, respected soccer magazine France Football came up with the idea of honouring Europe's player of the year by polling the top soccer journalists across the continent annually, and awarding the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball).
Stanley Matthews of English club Blackpool won the inaugural Ballon d'Or, and the long list of winners in the ensuing five decades is a who's who of soccer: Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, Alfredo Di Stefano and Gianni Rivera, to name a few.
This year, France Football has changed the qualifications for the honour, opening it up to players from the rest of the world, regardless of nationality. This marks a new era in the history of the Ballon d'Or, as it effectively has become the world player of the year award.
In 2006, Real Madrid's Fabio Cannavaro, who led Italy to its fourth World Cup title in the summer, became just the third defender to win the Ballon d'Or after Germans Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Matthias Sammer in 1996.
With the 2007 winner scheduled to be announced Sunday, CBCSports.ca offers a brief history of the award (see sidebar) and breaks down the top contenders and the dark horses for this year's honour.
THE FAVOURITES
AC Milan's Kaka is the odds on favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or award. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Kaka (AC Milan)
The Brazilian playmaker is the odds-on favourite to win the award this year after helping AC Milan win its seventh Champions League title. Kaka, 25, was the driving force behind a Milan team that brushed aside every team in its path, scoring a tournament-leading 10 goals en route to being named the competition's player of the year by UEFA, European soccer's governing body. More importantly, the Brazilian dazzled defenders and fans alike with his brilliant dribbling skills, unique vision on the field and his flair for scoring dramatic goals. Kaka looks set to join an elite list of AC Milan players who have won the award: Andriy Shevchenko (2004), George Weah (1995), Marco Van Basten (1988, 1989 and 1992), Ruud Gullit (1987) and Gianni Rivera (1969). Although Milan stumbled to a fourth-place finish in the Italian league, it would be a major shock if Kaka didn't claim the honour.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
The Portuguese winger came of age last season. Ronaldo, 22, was the sparkplug behind a Manchester United team that won its first English league title since 2003. The brash, young star finished third in league scoring with a tally of 17 goals - an amazing total for a winger - as Man U wrestled the Premiership crown away from Chelsea. Before last season Ronaldo was labelled a diver and a whiner, but he showed great maturity this past year by concentrating on terrorizing opposing defenders with his exquisite combination of speed, vision and ball control. He did, however, fail to impress in the Champions League, scoring only three goals as United lost to AC Milan in the semifinals. If not for Kaka, Ronaldo would be a lock to win the award.
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Tabbed the "next Maradona," the 20-year-old Argentine forward was a whirlwind of mazy runs and mad dervishes last season for Spanish outfit Barcelona. Messi demonstrated a lethal scoring touch with 14 goals during the Spanish league campaign, and he impressed critics with his expert playmaking skills, setting up teammates Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o with countless scoring chances. One of the most entertaining players to watch in the world, Messi helped Barcelona to a second-place finish in Spain last season. The young Argentine stepped up when Ronaldinho and Eto'o were out injured, assuming a larger leadership role with the Catalan club.\
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
The stylish Swedish forward scored 15 goals last season, guiding Inter Milan to another Italian league title. Often compared to Dutch legend Marco van Basten, Ibrahimovic, 25, demonstrated a knack for scoring highlight reel goals for the Italian club, and frustrating opponents who had the misfortune of marking him. Former AC Milan manager Fabio Capello, who coached van Basten in the 1990s, recently told the Italian media that he believes Ibrahimovic is close to surpassing the Dutch icon and that it's only a matter of time before he earns the Ballon d'Or. Could this be the year the Swede wins it?
THE SECOND-TIER CONTENDERS
Chelsea forward Didier Drogba led the Premiership in scoring last season with 20 goals. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Chelsea had high hopes that Andriy Shevchenko, who signed with the London club last off-season, would light up the Premiership with his scoring ability. Instead, the Ukraine hit man faltered. Chelsea was not left wanting for scoring, though, as Drogba, 29, picked up the slack, bagging 20 goals for Chelsea to win the Premiership scoring title. The Ivory Coast star firmly established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. And while Drogba's goals were not enough to help Chelsea win a third straight league title, he did score the winning goal to help the Blues defeat Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid paid an 18 million euro transfer fee to pry van Nistelrooy
away from Manchester United last summer and it proved to be money
well spent. The Dutch forward finished as the top scorer in Spain
with 25 goals, including a record streak where he scored a goal
in seven consecutive games. It was his goals that helped Real Madrid
beat out rivals Barcelona to win the Spanish league title, Madrid's
first in four years. At 31 years of age, it doesn't appear van Nistelrooy
has any plans to slow down, and a Ballon d'Or trophy would not look
at all out of place on his fireplace mantle.
Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
The Brazilian superstar won the Ballon d'Or 2005 in a cakewalk and could walk away with the trophy again in 2007. By his high standards, Ronaldinho, 27, had a bad season last year, but he still scored 21 goals for Barcelona (the third-highest total in the Spanish league) as the Catalans finished second behind Real Madrid. An amazing player to watch, Ronaldinho is still capable of conjuring up a bit magic on the field whenever the ball is at the feet and has to be considered a top contender for this award.
THE DARK HORSES
AS Roma star Francesco Totti won the European Golden Shoe award as the top goal scorer in European soccer last season. (Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Surprisingly, Totti is garnering little mention, but he shouldn't be overlooked. While Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo garnered the majority of headlines in 2007, the Italian won the European Golden Shoe award as the top goal scorer in European soccer. The AS Roma icon bagged an incredible 26 goals in the Italian league this past season, beating out van Nistelrooy for the prestigious honour. He also helped Roma reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and win a pair of trophies, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup. Even at 31, Totti is still one of the most dynamic, and thrilling players to watch.
Daniel Alves (Sevilla)
The marauding Brazilian defender was the heart and soul of a Sevilla team that challenged for the Spanish league title (the Andalusian side finished third) and repeated as UEFA Cup champions. Alves also helped Sevilla win the Copa del Ray. His outstanding play in Spain caught the attention of Chelsea, who launched a bid to buy the talented defender, but Sevilla refused the London club's advances for good reason - the 24-year-old speedster is one of the most potent, attacking defenders in the game.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES (player's pro club)
ARGENTINA: Lionel Andres Messi (FC Barcelona), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United)
BRAZIL: Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Rogerio Ceni (San Paolo), Diego (Werder Bremen), Kaka (AC Milan), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
BULGARIA: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
CAMEROON: Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Petr Cech (Chelsea)
ENGLAND: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Paul Scholes (Manchester United))
FRANCE: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
GERMANY: Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich))
GHANA: Michael Essien (Chelsea)
IRAQ: Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
ITALY: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
IVORY COAST: Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
JAPAN: Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic)
MALI: Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid), Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla)
MEXICO: Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico)
THE NETHERLANDS: Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
PORTUGAL: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Deco (FC Barcelona), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto)
SPAIN: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Raul (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia)
SWEDEN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
WALES: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
History of the Ballon d'Or
The Ballon d'Or was first handed out by French soccer magazine France Football in 1956.
The award, formerly known as the European player of the year, is given annually to the player considered to have performed the best during that calendar year.
From 1956 to 1994, a player had to play for a club in Europe and be of European nationality to qualify for the award. Since 1995, however, any player from a European club, regardless of nationality, has been eligible.
This year, the award is open to all players from around world. Thus, the Ballon d'Or is now the world player of the year award.
Only three players have won the Ballon d'Or three times: Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973 and 1974) and Marco van Basten (1988, 1989 and 1992), both of the Netherlands, and Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985) of France.
AC Milan star George Weah of Liberia was the first non-European to win the award in 1995.
Italian club Juventus has produced the most winners (eight), while Germany and the Netherlands lead all countries with seven winners apiece.
How the voting works
France Football releases a short list of 50 nominees that is voted on by journalists - one reporter from each member country of UEFA, European soccer's governing body. One representative from the national teams that have taken part in at least once FIFA World Cup also vote on the award.
France Football composes a shortlist of 50 candidates and each voter chooses his top five players from that list, with five points awarded to a player for a first-place vote, four points for second, three points for third, two points for fourth, and one point for fifth.
The player with the most points wins the Ballon d'Or.
Previous Ballon d'Or winners (club, player's country of origin)
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy)
2005 – Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona, Brazil)
2004 – Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan, Ukraine)
2003 – Pavel Nedved (Juventus, Czech Republic)
2002 – Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Brazil)
2001 – Michael Owen (Liverpool, England)
2000 – Luis Figo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
1999 – Rivaldo (FC Barcelona, Brazil)
1998 – Zinedine Zidane (Juventus, France)
1997 – Ronaldo (Inter Milan, Brazil)
1996 – Matthias Sammer (Borrussia Dortmund, Germany)
1995 – George Weah (AC Milan, Liberia)
1994 – Hristo Stoichkov (FC Barcelona, Bulgaria)
1993 – Roberto Baggio (Juventus, Italy)
1992 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan, the Netherlands)
1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin (Olympique Marseille, France)
1990 – Lothar Matthaus (Inter Milan, Germany)
1989 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan, the Netherlands)
1988 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan, the Netherlands)
1987 – Ruud Gullit (AC Milan, the Netherlands)
1986 – Igor Belanov (Dynamo Kiev, Russia)
1985 – Michel Platini (Juventus, France)
1984 – Michel Platini (Juventus, France)
1983 – Michel Platini (Juventus, France)
1982 – Paolo Rossi (Juventus, Italy)
1981 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1980 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1979 – Kevin Keegan (Hamburger SV, England)
1978 – Kevin Keegan (Hamburger SV, England)
1977 – Allan Simonsen (Borussia Monchengladbach, Denmark)
1976 – Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1975 – Oleg Blokhin (Dynamo Kiev, Russia)
1974 – Johan Cruyff (FC Barcelona, the Netherlands)
1973 – Johan Cruyff (FC Barcelona, the Netherlands)
1972 – Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1971 – Johan Cruyff (Ajax Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
1970 – Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1969 – Gianni Rivera (AC Milan, Italy)
1968 – George Best (Manchester United, Northern Ireland)
1967 – Florian Albert (Ferencvarosi TC, Hungary)
1966 – Bobby Charlton (Manchester United, England)
1965 – Eusebio (Benfica, Portugal)
1964 – Denis Law (Manchester United, Scotland)
1963 – Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moscow, Russia)
1962 – Josef Masopust (Dukla Praha, Czechoslovakia)
1961 – Omar Sivori (Juventus, Italy)
1960 – Luis Suarez (FC Barcelona, Spain)
1959 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid, Spain)
1958 – Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid, France)
1957 – Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid, Spain)
1956 – Stanley Matthews (Blackpool, England)
