Definition
The 1965 Ballon d'Or was the tenth annual edition of the Ballon d'Or award, a distinction presented by the French news magazine France Football to the male football player deemed to have performed the best over the 1965 calendar year in European football.
Overview
The award recognized the outstanding individual performance of players competing for clubs based in Europe, regardless of nationality. A panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries cast votes to determine the winner. In 1965, the award was bestowed upon the Portuguese forward Eusébio, who was playing for S.L. Benfica at the time. The ceremony and announcement traditionally took place in December of the award year.
Etymology/Origin
Ballon d'Or translates from French as “Golden Ball.” The award was created in 1956 by France Football and originally focused on European players; it expanded its eligibility criteria in later decades. The term has become synonymous with the highest individual honour in European club football.
Characteristics
- Eligibility: Players competing for European clubs during the 1965 season. Nationality was not a restriction, but the player had to be active in European football.
- Voting Process: A jury of sports journalists from UEFA member nations submitted ranked lists of players. Points were allocated based on each journalist’s ranking, and the player with the highest total received the award.
- Winner: Eusébio (Portugal/Benfica) received the most points in the 1965 voting, thereby becoming the award’s tenth recipient.
- Notable Context: The 1965 award followed the historic win of goalkeeper Lev Yashin in 1963 and preceded the 1966 award given to Bobby Charlton. The 1965 edition continued the tradition of recognizing individual excellence within the team sport of football.
Related Topics
- Ballon d'Or – the overall award and its history.
- France Football – the magazine that established and administers the prize.
- Eusébio – Portuguese footballer, prolific striker for Benfica and Portugal’s national team.
- European football awards – other honors such as the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award.
- FIFA World Player of the Year – later global award merging with the Ballon d'Or in 2010 (subsequently separated).