Football’s Rarest Honour: Why Alfredo Di Stéfano Is Still the Only Player to Win the Super Ballon d’Or

The Super Ballon d’Or, a special award created by France Football, stands apart from the annual Ballon d’Or because it was designed to recognise the player who had defined an entire era of the sport rather than just a single season.

The legendary trophy was presented only once, on 24 December 1989, when Real Madrid icon Alfredo Di Stéfano was crowned the greatest footballer of the previous three decades.

Di Stéfano defeated two other football giants in the final ranking: Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff, who finished second, and French legend Michel Platini, who came third.

The historic award was decided through a special voting process involving France Football’s jury and previous Ballon d’Or winners. Although public voting showed strong support for Platini, the expert panels ultimately favoured Di Stéfano because of his extraordinary influence and achievements during football’s golden era.

The Argentine-born forward’s legacy was built on his dominance with Real Madrid during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the heart of the team that won five consecutive European Cups from 1956 to 1960, a record that helped establish Madrid as a global football powerhouse.

Before receiving the Super Ballon d’Or, Di Stéfano had already won the regular Ballon d’Or twice — in 1957 and 1959 — further cementing his status among football’s greatest-ever players.

Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which is awarded every year and often sparks debates over the best player of a particular season, the Super Ballon d’Or was created as a rare celebration of a player’s entire impact on the game.

Despite occasional speculation that France Football could revive the award in the future, including possible discussions around a return near 2029, no second Super Ballon d’Or has been officially awarded.

As football continues to celebrate modern legends, from Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo and beyond, one remarkable fact remains unchanged: Alfredo Di Stéfano is the only footballer in history to own the Super Ballon d’Or.

The forgotten trophy has become one of football’s greatest mysteries — a symbol of unmatched greatness that may never be repeated.