Which English winger became the first ever winner of the Ballon d'Or when the award was introduced in 1956?

The Wizard of Dribble Makes History

Stanley Matthews didn't just win the first ever Ballon d'Or in 1956 — he embodied everything the award was created to celebrate. Introduced by French football magazine France Football, the prize was designed to honour the finest footballer in Europe, as voted by journalists from across the continent. And when the votes were counted for that inaugural edition, there was only one name at the top: Matthews.

Who Was Stanley Matthews?

Born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in 1915, Stanley Matthews was one of the most technically gifted wingers the game has ever produced. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Dribble," he was known for his extraordinary close control, balance, and ability to leave full-backs for dead with a shimmy and a burst of pace. He spent the bulk of his career at Stoke City and Blackpool, playing with a simplicity and effectiveness that made him almost impossible to defend against.

What made Matthews extraordinary wasn't just his skill — it was his longevity. He played top-flight football well into his forties, and incredibly, he turned 41 in the same year he claimed the Ballon d'Or. He would go on to play professionally until he was 50, finally hanging up his boots in 1965. No one in the modern game comes close to matching that.

The 1956 Award

When Matthews won the Ballon d'Or, he was playing for Blackpool — the club he had rejoined after leaving Stoke. He beat out some formidable competition, including Alfredo Di Stéfano and Raymond Kopa, to claim the prize. That he was chosen over Di Stéfano, one of the most dominant players of the era, speaks volumes about the respect Matthews commanded across European football.

It's worth noting this win was separate from what many casual fans know him for. Three years earlier, in 1953, Matthews had helped Blackpool produce one of the most memorable FA Cup Final comebacks in history — a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers from 3-1 down, a match that became immortalised as the "Matthews Final." The Ballon d'Or was a different kind of recognition: a continental, career-defining honour.

A Legacy That Stands Alone

Matthews was also the first footballer to be knighted, receiving his knighthood in 1965, the same year he retired. He remained deeply connected to the game until his death in 2000 at the age of 85.

Today, when we think of Ballon d'Or winners, names like Messi and Ronaldo dominate the conversation. But every time that golden ball is handed out, the lineage traces back to a quietly brilliant winger from the Potteries who did something no one had ever done before — and did it at 41.