How the Ballon d’Or is made, from the workshop to the winner’s hands!

The most valuable individual award in the history of football.

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How the Ballon d’Or is made, from the workshop to the winner’s hands!

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The Ballon d'Or trophy is not made of solid gold, despite its name. The iconic golden ball is actually crafted from two brass discs that are welded together and then coated with a layer of gold plating. The manufacturing process is handled by the French jewelry house Mellerio dits Meller, which has been responsible for creating the trophy since the award's inception in 1956. The entire production is a meticulous artisan process that takes approximately 100 hours of work and begins about six months before the trophy is delivered.

The Manufacturing Process

The creation of the trophy involves several precise steps. Artisans start by shaping brass discs into two hemispheres using a technique called "repoussé," which are then joined by welding. After the sphere is formed, an engraver hand-draws the seams of the leather elements to give it the appearance of a soccer ball. The ball is then mounted onto a unique base made from pyrite, a mineral also known as "fool's gold," which is selected each year to ensure every trophy has a distinct base. Finally, after extensive polishing, the trophy receives its gold plating and is engraved with the France Football logo and the winner's name.
read more: the Ballon d'Or race: The journey of decline continues.. How did Sadio Mané's fortunes change between 2022's runner up and a late rank in 2026?

🚨 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐍 𝐃’𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀 👀🌕 The Ballon d’Or has announced the 3 criteria journalists need to consider when voting: 1️⃣ 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 How well has the player performed individually? Important and decisive moments, as well as consistency, are key. 2️⃣ 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 The trophies the player has won with his team and how important he was to his team in winning them. 3️⃣ 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 The player’s behaviour, considering his respect and attitude both on and off the field. 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗡 𝗗’𝗢𝗥? 🤔
— 433 (@433) September 17, 2026

Dimensions, Weight, and Value

The finished trophy is substantial in size and weight. It stands approximately 31 centimeters tall, including the base, and weighs around 12 kilograms (about 26.6 lbs). The ball itself has a diameter of roughly 23 centimeters. If the ball were made of solid gold, it would weigh an estimated 123 kilograms, which would be impractical for a winner to lift during a celebration. While the raw materials are valued at around €3,000, the craftsmanship and labor bring the estimated value of the trophy to approximately €500,000.

Voici comment est fabriqué le Ballon d’or #BallonDor #BallonDor2026 https://t.co/HRFLaZ3ZH7
— ༄𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 🔚𝗭 (Backup) (@FreeSpeech313) October 26, 2026