Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, November 14, 2025 8:53 p.m. / Updated Friday, November 14, 2025 9:24 p.m.
The Super Ballon d'Or, one of the rarest and most prestigious trophies in football history, could be awarded again. According to information published by thetouchline.co.ukthe award would return in 2029, exactly 40 years after Alfredo Di Stefano received the only such distinction, in 1989.
France Football magazine, which has been awarding the Ballon d'Or since 1956, created a special award in 1989: the Super Ballon d'Or, a distinction intended to designate the best footballer of the last three decades.
🚨 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘: The idea of the Super Ballon d'Or is still in full flow!
The award would be given to the best player of the last 30 years, and it would be presented in 2029, exactly 30 years after the last Super Ballon d'Or was presented to Di Stefano in 1989! ✨ pic.twitter.com/ebHRWwbO65
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) November 14, 2025
What is the Super Ballon d'Or? The unique trophy has only been awarded once in history
The winner then was the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano, who beat Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini in an extremely close race.
The vote was awarded as follows:
-
the public (readers and viewers);
-
France Football journalists;
-
former Ballon d'Or winners;
Interestingly, the public preferred Platini, but the votes of experts and former laureates propelled Di Stefano to the top.
Di Stefano's trophy, today in the hands of an anonymous
The trophy awarded to Di Stefano was totally different from the usual Ballon d'Or. It was a massive golden ball, protruding from a cluster of red crystals.
At the base of the trophy were several small orbs, also red, arranged around the support.
For years in a row, the trophy was exhibited in the museum of Real Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In 2021, however, Di Stefano's children put it up for auction, and it was sold for £187,500 to an anonymous buyer.
Why could the Super Ballon d'Or return in 2029?
According to the quoted source, the idea of the trophy's reappearance is “in full swing” in the France Football editorial office. The logic is as follows:
-
In 2029, it will be 40 years since the last and only “Super Ballon” awarded,
-
As in the first edition, the trophy would reward the best footballer of the last three decades,
-
2029 would thus mark the 70th anniversary of the first Ballon d'Or and the 40th anniversary of the historic Super Ballon.
Who would have a real chance? Messi, Cristiano, Ronaldo “the Brazilian”, Zidane?
-
While there is no official list yet, the big names dominating the discussion are:
-
Lionel Messi – 8 Golden Balls, absolute record
-
Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 trophies, an entire era in rivalry with Messi
-
Ronaldo Nazario – considered by many to be the greatest pure talent in history
-
Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho – seen as luxury outsiders
France Football is yet to officially confirm whether the 2029 edition will take place, but the sources cited claim that the project is already advanced.
