When Munich’s Lord Mayor Dominik Krause sent his congratulations to Harry Kane this week, he did not simply praise a striker for scoring goals. He hailed the FC Bayern forward as the new “Weltfußballer des Jahres” – the World Footballer of the Year – after Kane collected the Ballon d’Or in, fittingly, his home city of London. Krause described him as a true gentleman who embodies sportsmanship, discipline, modesty and integrity, and noted two remarkable milestones: the trophy returns to England after 25 years and to Bayern Munich for the first time in 45 years. But what exactly is a “World Footballer”, and why does the title carry so much weight?
One idea, two trophies
In German-speaking countries, “Weltfußballer” is the everyday label for the best player on the planet in a given year. Internationally, though, that honour is shared between two separate awards. The older and more prestigious is the Ballon d’Or, the golden ball created in 1956 by the French magazine France Football. The second is FIFA’s own prize, today called The Best FIFA Men’s Player, which grew out of the FIFA World Player of the Year award launched in 1991.
For six years, from 2010 to 2015, the two prizes were merged into a single “FIFA Ballon d’Or”. The partnership ended, and since 2016 both organisations have again crowned their own winner. Often they agree; sometimes they do not, which fuels endless debates in bars, studios and comment sections.
How the winner is chosen
The Ballon d’Or is decided by an international jury of journalists, usually one from each of the top-ranked football nations. Each voter ranks a shortlist of nominees, and points are awarded by position. Since a reform in 2022, the judges focus on a single European season rather than a calendar year, and they are asked to weigh individual performance first, team success second, and class and fair play third.
FIFA’s award uses a broader electorate: national team coaches, national team captains, selected media representatives and, notably, the fans, each group counting for an equal share of the final result.
A history of legends
The first Ballon d’Or went to England’s Stanley Matthews. Originally only Europeans playing in Europe were eligible; the doors opened to all nationalities in 1995, when Liberia’s George Weah won. The modern era was dominated by Lionel Messi, with a record eight golden balls, and Cristiano Ronaldo with five. Bayern’s previous winner was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who triumphed in 1980 and 1981 – which explains the 45-year wait Munich’s mayor mentioned. England last celebrated with Michael Owen in 2001.
Why it matters beyond football
A World Footballer title is more than a shiny trophy for a private shelf. It shapes a player’s legacy, lifts a club’s global brand and, as Munich’s town hall made clear, can make an entire city feel proud. Krause called the award a reason for Munich to shine as a “world city of sport” and expressed his hope that Kane will stay with Bayern for a long time.
For Kane, long admired for his goals but criticised for his lack of trophies, the golden ball is a powerful answer. For fans everywhere, it is a reminder that the World Footballer debate never really ends – it simply waits for next season.
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