The Ballon d'Or came into existence in 1956, and until 1994 it was presented to the best player from a European nation playing club football in a European league. Players no longer had to be European after a relaxing of the rules in 1995, but they still had to ply their trade on the Old Continent until 2007, when that condition was removed as well. The FIFA Player of the Year award operated according to the most recent version of those criteria after its creation in 1991.

The first Ballon d'Or was handed to Stanley Matthews in 1956, the 41-year-old English winger pipping Alfredo Di Stefano and Raymond Kopa to the prize. Then, 35 years later, the inaugural FIFA Player of the Year award went to German midfielder Lothar Matthaus, with Jean-Pierre Papin and Gary Lineker second and third in the standings.

Since 2005, the two honors have always gone to the same players, with Ronaldinho recognized in 2005, Fabio Cannavaro singled out in 2006, Kaka taking the plaudits in 2007, and 2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo then giving way to Lionel Messi last year.

In practical terms, the new FIFA Ballon d'Or award will represent a fusion in terms of voting procedure as well. Votes will now come from the coaches and captains of international teams - as was previously the case for the FIFA Player of the Year - and also from journalists, who used to nominate France Football's Ballon d'Or winner.

"This electoral college of players, coaches and journalists will make for more balance and better representation," explained Francois Moriniere, managing director of L'Equipe and France Football.

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