The art of defending is one typically overlooked during awards season.
Since the Ballon d'Or's inception in 1956, there have been just a few instances of voters preferring glorious stoutness over magestic playmaking, dazzling wing-play, or prolfiic goal-getting.
It's those doing the creating and scoring that win the hearts and minds, while the soldiers tasked with stopping the artists are looked upon with disdain. They're preventing all the fun from happening.
Nevertheless, there have been defensive performances so otherworldly that they simply had to be recognised to the highest degree. There have been enterprising pioneers, sound sweepers, and pristine fundamentalists who have got their hands on the award, although we haven't seen a defender claim Ballon d'Or glory in almost 20 years.
