The Ballon d’Or is football’s highest individual prize. Since 1956, it has been handed to the sport’s brightest stars for their skills, wins, and impact on the pitch. Yet, as the years pass, it feels like this award was made only for goal scorers. 

If saving games isn’t enough for keepers to win the Ballon d'Or, what is? It’s time for goalkeepers to get the honour they’ve long earned.

The Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or, a French term for ‘Golden Ball�? is an esteemed award that the France Football magazine hosts every year. It’s given to the best-performing footballer over the last season. 

The winner is chosen through votes from a panel of specialised journalists. The jurors weigh the footballer’s playing form, team performance, trophies, and fair play. But in truth, the award leans hard on goals and assists, often leaving defenders and goalkeepers behind.

Goalkeepers and their role on the field

Keepers are called the ‘last line of defence�?for a reason. They hold the backline, make split-second saves, and often start counter-attacks to help stop the opposing team from scoring.

Modern goalkeepers like Thibaut Courtois and Gianluigi Donnarumma show how the role demands speed, strength, and smarts. Yet, despite all this, they get less praise and almost no rewards. 

Goalkeeper analyst Bill Reno has the answer. He mentioned that a keeper’s position is ‘antithetical�?to the sport, where everyone is trying to score a goal and they stop it. This makes it harder for fans to appreciate the role, and somehow, keepers receiving no Ballon d’Or awards made sense.

Keepers and the Golden Ball: Will they ever meet again?

For over 69 years of Ballon d’Or, only one keeper has ever won the award: Lev Yashin, in 1963. Dubbed ‘The Black Spider�? he was deemed as a wall in goal, but even his win remains a rare case. 

Take the 2014-15 season. It was a time when top-tier players graced the Ballon d’Or. Keeper Manuel Neuer had just lifted the World Cup and led Bayern Munich to the Champions League. Yet, Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball, thanks to his goals and Barcelona’s success.

Critics called it unfair. Headlines argued that Neuer deserved the Golden Ball that year. In a nutshell, the system is flawed, as the jurors tend to favour strikers and goals. Media hype outweighs the stats and clean sheets from players on the backline, and only a few appreciate the goalkeeping craft.

What can be done? France Football might tweak their system a bit to help shine the spotlight on other deserving players by:

• Weighing each position’s impact and not just depending on goals.
• Introducing a keeper-focused specific prize or adjusting voting panels if the Ballon d’Or can’t change
• Highlighting saves, clean sheets, and clutch moments from keepers in matches

Time to rethink the gold standard

The Ballon d’Or is meant to honour the best footballer of the season. For keepers, the bar remains out of reach for a lack of fair recognition. As the game evolves, so should its awards. It’s high time to crown the hidden powerhouse of football clubs.

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What if football wasn’t just what happens on the field? There’s more to the sport than wins, losses, or goals from midfield. In reality, football carries the weight of legacy and identity, and nothing shows these better than the powerful lens of documentary films.

These stories will take you behind the scenes—into locker rooms, quiet moments, and struggles off the field. Whether you love football for its fiercest clashes, rich history, or dramatic goals, these films will give you something more, something real. Ready for a movie night? Here’s your watch list if you want to see the game like you’ve never done before.

The icons: Legendary players

Some players undeniably shine brighter than the rest, and it’s not just for what they did on the pitch but for how they shaped the sport forever. These films explore the lives of some of football’s biggest names. There are victories, but you also get to see the pressure, flaws, and moments that shaped their careers.

Messi (2014)

This 2014 film walks you through Lionel Messi’s rise from a small boy in Rosario, Argentina, to one of football’s greatest players in history. Directed by Álex de la Iglesia, it blends personal stories, youth footage, and insights from fellow players and coaches.

It dives into Messi’s quiet nature, early struggles, and growth at FC Barcelona, his club at the time of the film. Reviews and critics praised the film's rawness, pointing out the lack of insight into his character. Messi (2014) is available to watch on NBC, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.

Ronaldo (2015)

Ronaldo gives a close look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s life on and off the field during a key year of his career. Shot for over 14 months, the film follows his journey as he wins his third Ballon d’Or award and juggles family, fame, and pressure. You also get a rare glimpse into his fatherly duties at home with his son. Ronaldo is available on Netflix and Apple TV.

Diego Maradona (2019)

As wild as it might get, Asif Kapadia’s Diego Maradona doesn’t hold back. Built from over 500 hours of never-before-seen footage, the film tells the story of one of football’s most popular stars—how he became a football god and later a fallen one at Napoli. 

This documentary explores his highs and lows, blending sports with fame, politics, and addiction. It’s raw, messy, and iconic—just like Diego. Watch it on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.

Inside the game: Championing clubs and women’s football

Beyond the icons are the clubs, fans, and women who’ve long fought for their spaces in the sport. These stories put you in the shoes of teams and players who don’t always get the spotlight. They show what it takes to build something great, from scratch or even from the edge of collapse.

Take Us Home: Leeds United (2019-2020)

This Amazon docuseries tracks Leeds United’s long road back to the Premier League after 16 years of fight. Narrated by Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, it follows the team’s 2018-19 wild season under Marcelo Bielsa. More than a comeback, it’s a love letter to a city, a team, and their fans who refused to give up. 

All or Nothing (2018–present)

All or Nothing is a sports docuseries covering top clubs and national teams worldwide. It features clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Juventus. Each season takes you straight into their locker rooms and training grounds. 

The series offers an honest look at how teams handle wins, losses, transfers, and pressure. This is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Footeuses (2020)

This French documentary shines a light on women in football—dreamers who’ve had to fight for their place in the sport. Set after the 2019 World Cup, you get to meet the Paris Saint-Germain girls who are breaking barriers and showing how football isn’t just a man’s game. Watch the film on YARD’s official YouTube channel.

Beyond the game: Social and cultural views

Beyond the games, football reflects the world around it. It shows the deeper issues of power, race, identity, and even silence. These documentaries look at the game through a wide lens, showing how the sport can unite people and why what happens off the field matters.

Football’s Coming Out (2022)

In this day and age, you’d probably ask why there aren’t any openly gay players at the highest level of English football. This film follows what happens if gay male footballers try to come out in a sport that’s still tied to silence and fear.

It simply asks why so many still feel unsafe to come out, raising questions on inclusion and visibility in the game. You can watch this on Channel 4’s official website and YouTube channel.

Shame in the Game: Racism in Football (2020)

This BBC feature confronts the rise of racist abuse in the sport, both in stadiums and online. It includes direct accounts from players and actual footage of abuse, showing how deep this issue runs. This film is tough, but a must-watch to understand why change is more than needed now. Watch this on BBC iPlayer or She Scored’s YouTube channel.

Football’s exciting history in the bigger picture

These football documentaries do more than just entertain. They open your eyes to the passion, pain, and power that shape the game. From iconic stories to social issues, these films are a great reminder of why football is one of the biggest sports in the world.

So the next time you press play, know you’re not just watching a match—you’re peeking into the lives, dreams, and truths that make football what it is.

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