The European Footballer of the Year Award was inaugurated in 1956 when Stanley Matthews was the first ever winner. The award was also known as the Ballon d' 'Or was given to the player judged by a panel of journalists to have been the best player in Europe during the calendar year.

The award was conceived by France Football's chief magazine writer Gabriel Hanot. It wasn't until 1995 that the award was eventually opened up to all players from anywhere in the world who plyed their trade with a European Football team.

2009 saw the final award for the European Footballer of the Year as afterwards the award was merged with the Fifa World Footballer of the Year Award.

Stanley Matthews - The first winner of the European Footballer of the Year Award

Lionel Messi - The final winner of the European Footballer of the Year Award.