By admin 
The Super Ballon d’Or remains the most coveted and rare distinction for players in football. Unlike other awards, it is different from the annual Ballon d’Or that recognises the best player over the period of one year; whereas the Super Ballon d’Or indicates excellence that comes with a player’s whole career, it, therefore, remains an extremely rare distinction in football.
Historical Background
History and Process of Awards
The Super Ballon d’Or was sponsored by the French magazine France Football on the occasion of celebrating 40 years of its activity. The prize was awarded only once, December 24, 1989 and it was an award to be given to the best player of the past three decades. The prize was up for the ballot of only those players who had won the Ballon d’Or multiple times, therefore it was a very competitive race to win one.
The Sole Receiver: Alfredo Di Stéfano
The first and the only winner of Super Ballon d’Or was Alfredo Di Stéfano, legendary football forward, due to his prolific goalscoring and influential impact for Real Madrid. He is notable for his career statistics: he scored 308 goals in 396 appearances for Real Madrid and was able to win successfully 18 major trophies during the period that he played from 1953 to 1964. He bagged two Ballon d’Or awards consecutively in 1957 and 1959.
There was a voting process that involved fans, members of a panel whose members worked for France Football, and previous Ballon d’Or winners, and Di Stéfano emerged the best among other great football legends including Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini. Although Platini garnered huge public votes, in a general sense, the total influence of Di Stéfano on the game was what made him earn this title.
The Trophy
Design and Features
The Super Ballon d’Or trophy is, in fact a masterpiece, an oversized derivative of the Ballon d’Or. It features a golden ball atop a crystal-style glass base surrounded by a number of mini golden balls. The trophy is 52 cm tall, with the base measuring 30 by 30 cm.
Current Status
For years, it was kept in the Real Madrid Museum, within the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium grounds. But in 2021, it was sold, along with some others personal items of Di Stéfano, at an auction to a mystery buyer for a staggering £187,500. The present whereabouts of the trophy are unknown.
Possibility of Future Trophies
Possibility of Second Trophy
Speculation about whether the Super Ballon d’Or will ever be presented again is still on going. Some experts think that it could be presented in 2029 since it was 40 years since its presentation time. If that happens, many feel Lionel Messi would have a clear advantage, as he has the most impressive records in modern football.
Messi has bagged various accolades throughout the course of his career, among these he added seven Ballon d’Or titles and winning the World Cup in 2022. As a legacy to the football world, he is likely to be one of the pick in case the Super Ballon d’Or was revived.
Conclusion
The Super Ballon d’Or was, is, and remains an award for sole player in football history-an award that recognizes individual brilliance and encapsulates a player’s entire career contributions to the sport. It has the potential for revival; and its singular award history, no doubt, continues to ignite discussions among fans and analysts alike as to what constitutes greatness in football.