A name you can picture
Ballon d’Or means “golden ball” in French. In football, ballon is a ball, and or means gold: the two words describe the trophy you see.
The Larousse entry for ballon gives its sporting meaning; its entry for or supplies the gold. According to UEFA’s guide, France Football created the award in 1956.
Gold on the outside
That name does not mean the trophy is a solid lump of gold. Its maker, Mellerio, describes the process: two brass half-spheres are joined, then the surface is worked to resemble a football.
The familiar pattern has 32 panels. Engraving adds details such as the winner’s name before a thin layer of gold provides the finish.
The ball has a base
The sphere sits on a base of pyrite, with a different stone chosen for each trophy. Mellerio says the complete object takes almost 100 hours of work: a small name for a surprisingly long job.
What the name tells you
So the name is wonderfully literal about the shape and colour, while leaving the construction as a surprise. Next time you see the golden ball, picture the two brass halves beneath its shine.