10 Essential Ballon d'Or facts that you need to know

#3 Barcelona are the most successful club at the Ballon d'Or

FC Barcelona boasts the highest number of Ballon d'Or winners in its ranks.

Players from Barcelona have claimed the Ballon d'Or more times than any other club in the world. As of last year, Barcelona players were named the winners of the award a record 11 times.

Arch-Rivals Real Madrid are right behind Barca in terms of success at the Ballon d'Or, with a Los Blancos player emerging as the winner on 10 occasions so far.

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#4 Only one goalkeeper has won the award so far

Lev Yashin is considered as the best goalkeeper in the history of the sport.

Lev Yashin, who is often credited as the player who revolutionized the role of the goalkeeper in modern football, was voted as the Ballon d'Or winner in 1963 ahead of the likes of Eusebio and Jimmy Greaves, who is Tottenham Hotspur's all-time leading goalscorer.

The Black Spider, as he is often referred to, was an imposing figure in the goal and was known for his exceptional reflexes and penalty-saving ability.

France Football, the magazine that hands out the Ballon d'Or every year, wrote this about him, as reported by the BBC:

“Yashin revolutionized the role of goalkeeper like no other before him, by always being ready to act as an extra defender” and by “starting dangerous counter-attacks with his positioning and quick throws”.