When Flórián Albert won the 1967 Ballon d’Or he was presented with the award in his kitchen.

Having been forced to pull out of Hungary’s clash with the USSR due to injury, the plan to hand Albert the trophy in front of a packed stadium was quashed. Károly Sós, Albert’s manager, bluntly rejected the suggestion that his player would be individually recognized in the team hotel, so France Football ’s editor-in-chief at the time, Max Urbini, had to host an impromptu ceremony next to the refrigerator. Albert’s wife, the revered actor Irén Bársony, was the only spectator.

The modern ceremony looks a little different .

Aside from a distinct lack of washing up, the London Palladium offers room for a few more onlookers than the winner’s spouse. On soccer’s answer to Oscar night, the stars duly came out.

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