Oldest winner of football’s (soccer’s) Ballon d’Or award
- Who
- Stanley Matthews
- What
- 41:321 year(s):day(s)
- Where
- Not Applicable
- When
- 18 December 1956
The oldest winner of football’s (soccer’s) Ballon d’Or award is Stanley Matthews (UK b. 1 February 1915), who was aged 41 years 321 days when he received the award on 18 December 1956.
Blackpool and England winger Stanley Matthews was the first recipient of the Ballon d’Or – then also known as the European Footballer of the Year award. He played for another nine years before retiring at the age of 50.