Saracens legend Alex Goode has finally decided to hang up his boots after what feels like a lifetime of servitude to the ...

and back then was widely known simply as the European Footballer Of The Year award. It was the brainchild of Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran, two journalists from France Football magazine.

The Ballon d'Or has become known as the most prestigious individual prize in football, bestowing the title of the best footballer in the world on its winner each year. It started out in 1956 as a ...

Then in 1995 it was expanded to include anyone playing in European football, and that year George Weah became the first non-European to win it. Then, finally, in 2007 it was expanded to include ...

The Ballon d'Or has existed since 1956 and for years was considered as Europe's footballer of the year award given only European players were allowed to be voted for. This was followed by a ...