The Birth of the Ballon d’Or in 1956 The history of the Ballon d’Or began in 1956, at a time when football was growing in popularity across Europe and major competitions were attracting increasing public attention. The initiative originated with the French sports magazine France Football. Among the key figures associated with the creation of this award was journalist Gabriel Hanot, a former footballer who had become an influential figure in French sports journalism. The objective was ambitious: to recognize the best football player of the year and give international recognition to exceptional talent.