Let's have some fun today! Have you ever screamed at your TV wondering how a player didn't win the Golden Ball at the World Cup? Or thought, "Wait, THAT guy won it?"

Same here. So I went digging—and wow, the process is way more political than I expected 😅.

First Things First: What Is the Golden Ball?

The Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) is the official award for the best player at a World Cup tournament. It's not about the top scorer—that's the Golden Boot. This one's about overall impact: skills, leadership, goals, assists, and basically how much they stood out every time they stepped on the pitch.

So… Who Picks the Winner?

Here's where it gets interesting: it's not just fans or coaches who vote. The winner is chosen by a select group of journalists—yes, media folks handpicked by FIFA. Usually one journalist from each country represented in the tournament gets a vote. That means a panel of about 80-100 people decides who gets football's biggest individual prize 🤯.

How Do They Vote?

Right after the semifinals (yep, even before the final is played!), FIFA sends out a shortlist of players who've stood out. Voters rank their top 3, and points are awarded: 5 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, and 1 for 3rd. The player with the most total points wins the Golden Ball.

And guess what? Since voting ends before the final match, a player can win the Golden Ball even if they flop in the final… or if their team loses entirely. (It's happened!)

Past Winners That Shocked Me 😳

I still remember 2014. Messi won the Golden Ball, but Argentina lost the final. A lot of fans thought other players deserved it more. But because voting closed before the final whistle, that was it. No take-backs.

Same thing in 2010—Diego Forlán won, even though Uruguay didn't make the final. Still a baller though!

Is It Fair?

That depends on how you see it. Some say it should reflect the entire tournament, including the final. Others believe it should reward consistency throughout, even if the last game doesn't go your way. Either way, knowing it's in the hands of journalists (not coaches or players) explains a lot about some controversial wins 🤔.

Let's Chat! 💬

Now that you know how the Golden Ball is picked, does it change how you see past winners? Who do you think really deserved it in 2022 or 2018? Drop your thoughts—and your GOAT picks—in the comments! 👇

And if you enjoyed this little football deep dive, hit that follow so we can geek out over more behind-the-scenes stuff together 💥