Ballon d'Or ceremony moves to London to honour Stanley Matthews

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 26 Oct, 10:38 · Archive

The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony is being held in London for the first time, at the London Palladium on Monday, honouring Stanley Matthews who won the first award in 1956.

The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony is being held at the London Palladium on Monday, the first time the event has taken place in England since its inception 70 years ago. The relocation from its usual home in Paris is a mark of respect to Sir Stanley Matthews, who became the first winner of the award in 1956 when it was presented to him at Blackpool town hall by Gabriel Hanot, the visionary editor of L'Équipe who created the award.

Matthews was 41 years old when he received the prize, which came with a specially commissioned china plate presented by the town's mayor. His son, Stanley Matthews Jr, recalls the simplicity of that first ceremony: "There was no ceremony. 'Here's your Ballon d'Or, well done', sort of thing." Matthews, famously teetotal, gave a short speech at the occasion. He went on to become the first active player to receive a knighthood, in 1965, a few months before retiring at the age of 50.

Matthews' family is attending this year's awards with enthusiasm. Stanley Matthews Jr, who had a successful tennis career and won junior Wimbledon, will attend with his sister Jean and her two daughters. "We're very excited," he said. He described his father as "so far ahead of his time" in his approach to training and equipment, noting that Matthews wore unusually light football boots "like slippers so that he could move quicker."

The switch to London aligns with an agreement between France Football and UEFA to co-host the ceremony and rotate it between prominent European sporting venues. The London Palladium has been chosen for its cultural significance. Red-carpet arrivals begin around 5pm, with the awards show starting at 8pm.

The main contenders for the men's award include Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, Manchester City's Erling Haaland and 2025 winner Ousmane Dembele. The women's award nominees include Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Aitana Bonmati and England's Alessia Russo.

How it is being reported

• Why is the Ballon d'Or in London? Classy reason behind venue change after 70 yearsThere has been a major change to the Ballon d'Or as Harry Kane looks to get his hands on the famous trophyMirror Sport · 26 Oct, 10:12
• Ballon d’Or ceremony returns to England in nod to ‘revolutionary’ Stanley MatthewsMatthews’ family ‘very excited’ as London Palladium hosts event 70 years after first award at Blackpool town hall When football’s dignitaries assemble on Monday at the London Palladium for the Ballon d’Or ceremony it will be a far cry from the first awards 70 years ago. That was held in the slightly less glamorous surroundings of Blackpool town hall, where Stanley Matthews was presented with the prize by Gabriel Hanot, the visionary editor of L’Équipe who came up with the idea of crowning the world’s best player every year. A specially commissioned china plate was also handed over by the…Guardian Sport · 25 Oct, 08:00
• Why Stanley Matthews’ Ballon d’Or triumph echoes down the years for Harry Kane | Jonathan WilsonIn 1956, the Blackpool great was recognised for his force of individual will, the very thing that makes the Bayern and England striker the standout candiate Systems football began in 1963 – on the hallowed turf of Wembley – with the impact of a cynical foul by Gino Pivatelli. At that moment in the European Cup final, when the hard-working Milan forward, brought in to combat Benfica’s Mário Coluna, caught the great playmaker, football of the individual came to an end. The foul not only checked a promising break, but broke a bone in Coluna’s foot. Without substitutes, he hobbled on…The Guardian · 24 Oct, 20:00

In this story: Stanley Matthews · Harry Kane · London Palladium · Blackpool · Bayern Munich · L'Équipe

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