In recent years, the duopoly Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo has reduced the award of the Golden Ball to a challenge bordering on monotony, causing a certain disaffection among football fans who see the prestigious trophy, awarded on the idea of ​​the French sports magazine France Football, like a Telegatto placed every year for Mike Bongiorno. Discounted and even a little trivialized.
From 2010, but only until 2015 – thanks to a heartfelt failure of the proposal – the recognition merged with the Fifa World Player of the Year , giving life to a new award called the Fifa Golden Ball, withvoting extended not only to sports journalists from all over the world, but also to the coaches and captains of the national teams affiliated with the International Federation.
A gimmick between marketing and the personal “esteem” of the footballer friend who, in fact, was not liked and further accentuated the centralization of the award between the Barcelona star and that of Real Madrid who have shared the trophy since 2008 ( Kaka was the last human to win it in 2007 ).
This year we have returned to the old formula, but perhaps, never as in recent years has the Ballon d’Or deservedly been won by Cristiano Ronaldo who in the calendar year 2016 put the Champions League with Real Madrid and l ‘European with Portugal. An undertaking not exactly within everyone’s reach.
Yet from its birth in 1956, the Golden Ball freed itself from the conquest of other trophies that somehow justified the award ; simply voted for the strongest footballer of the year, with only one limit: from 1956 until the 1994 edition, in fact, the regulation required that the player had to be of European nationality in order to aspire to the title; since 1995 this distinction has been overcome, allowing players of non-European nationality, but belonging to European teams, to compete for the prize; since 2007, militant footballers in any FIFA club can compete for the award .
In 1956, the year of the first edition, journalists from 16 European nations awarded the golden ball to Stanley Matthews , Blackpool ‘s right winger , in front of the Madrid player Alfredo Di Stefano and the Frenchman Raymond Kopa . A recognition, it will be said later, to his long and long career, to his greatest achievement: winning the prestigious FA Cup three years earlier with The Tangerines (mandarins). Pele said of Matthews:
He taught us how football must be played
A certificate of esteem that speaks volumes about the impact that the former England international has had on football and, more specifically, on the role of the winger . Nicknamed“The Wizard of football ,” Matthews’ career spans three decades, but only two distinct clubs: Stoke City (1932-1947, and then later 1961-1965) and Blackpool (1947-1961). Debut at 17, last professional match five days after turning 50 ; a Ballon d’Or won at the age of 41 and two World Cups with England in 1950 and 1954, playing with the Three Lions jersey up to 42 (no one has yet passed it).
PIC: Sir Stanley Matthews with his FA Cup Legend Award outside Wembley in 1998. # SirStan100 pic.twitter.com/hfAEcACitY
– Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) February 1, 2015
It is May 2, 1953his day, the match that went down in history as the “Matthews final” . In the prestigious Wembley stadium , the final of the Fa Cup, the oldest trophy in the world, was played between Stanley’s Blackpool and the widely favored Bolton , who after only 75 seconds confirmed the predictions of the eve, taking the lead and doubling to 18. ′. A Blackpool goal in the first half deluded the Mandarins who found themselves 3-1 down at the start of the second half.
There was a record turnout at Wembley, there were 100,000 people , many just to encourage Matthews who, however, was doubled over on his legs with fatigue . At 38, chasing his younger opponents, to run, dribble and go up and down on the wing. But here’s the magic: in the 69th minute Stanley Matthews dragged the team to the comeback, flying off to the right and crossing in the middle for Mortensen who scored 2-3. One minute from the 90th and Mortensen again to make the 3-3, on a free kick. When everyone was in the lead in extra time, Matthews, never defeated, still on the wing, dished another ball, this time, to Perry who transformed the final 4-3 .
You’re 32, you think you can play another couple of seasons
. That’s what Joe Smith , Blackpool manager told Stanley Matthews in 1947. Six years before the Fa Cup final and nine years before the Ballon d’Or.
