Stoichkov Donates Ballon d'Or, Golden Shoe Replicas to CSKA Sofia Museum

Replicas of the Ballon d'Or (L) and European Golden Show (R), which Hristo Stoichkov was awarded respectively in 1994 and 1990, are now exhibited in the museum of CSKA Sofia. Photo: BGNES

Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov fulfilled his promise and donated the museum of CSKA Sofia with replicas of his two most precious individual awards - Ballon d'Or and the Golden Shoe.

Stoichkov was awarded the European Golden Shoe for the 1989-1990 season, when he scored 38 goals with his then team CSKA Sofia.

In 1994, Stoichkov, who was then playing for Barcelona, became the first Bulgarian ever to win the Ballon d'Or.

For the moment, Stoichkov, who became the top scorer of the 1994 World Cup, remains the only Bulgarian to have won the Ballon d'Or.

Two other Bulgarians have won the European Golden Shoe - Petar Zhekov (CSKA Sofia) in the 1968-1969 season with 36 goals and Georgi Slavkov (Botev Plovdiv) in 1980-1981 with 31 goals.

The Ballon d'Or is an annual award, which is given to the male player, who is considered as the best performing in the previous calendar year.

The European Golden Shoe, formerly known as European Golden Boot, is also an annual award, given to the leading goalscorer in the European domestic tournaments.

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