10 things you probably didn't know about the Ballon d'Or

FC Barcelona have the highest number of Ballon d'Or winners - 11

#6 First non-European recipient of the gong

Until 1995, France Football adjudged winners only from the pool of players from European countries. 1995 saw the rule being changed for good and in that year itself, the world saw it's first and only African to win the Ballon d'Or.

George Weah won the prized trophy in 1995 after a sensational calendar year for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

#5 Clubs with the most Ballon d'Or winners

Lionel Messi has won a staggering five Ballon d'Ors so far in his career. So it makes it rather easy to guess which club stands at top of the pile in this list.

But if it wasn't for Messi, FC Barcelona would still have six Ballon d'Ors in their trophy room. The Catalans have 11 winners in their ranks, with Messi winning five of them.

Luis Suarez was the first in 1960, Johan Cruyff won it twice while Hristo Stoichkov, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were the other winners. Real Madrid follow FC Barcelona with nine Ballon d'Or winners, whereas Juventus and AC Milan are joint-third with eight each.