How much is the Ballon d'Or worth, what is it made of, who designed it and how much does it weigh

The Ballon d'Or, created in 1956, is made from brass plates soldered together and gold-plated, stands 31cm tall, weighs 7.2kg, and is valued at over €3,000.

The Ballon d'Or has become one of football's most prized possessions since its creation in 1956 by France Football magazine director Gabriel Hanot, with Stanley Matthews as its first winner. The award has evolved significantly over the decades: initially reserved for European players (which excluded Diego Maradona), it later opened to all nationalities playing in European clubs, and eventually to players worldwide. In 2010, it merged with FIFA's World Player award for six years before the FIFA Ballon d'Or ended and The Best award was created.

The trophy is crafted from two brass plates—an alloy of copper and zinc that gives it a gold-like shine—which are soldered together to form a hemisphere with a football as its centrepiece. A goldsmith fills the ball with wax-like material and uses a chisel and hammer to carve the ball's seams, then the entire piece is plated in fine gold with the France Football logo engraved and the winner's name added. The base is made from pyrite. The current Ballon d'Or measures 31cm in height and 23cm in length and width, weighing 7.2kg, with an economic value exceeding €3,000—though its true worth to players is symbolic and incalculable.