Upon the occasion of the Ballon d’OrTM gala evening scheduled to take place in Paris on November 29th , France Football will respectively present each of the 2021 men’s and women’s winners of the prestigious award with a unique Purnell model specifically designed and developed for the event. Who will succeed Lionel Messi as the next Ballon d’OrTM recipient? The Argentinian player himself, thus making his mark further in the sport’s history? Or perhaps another football star among the shortlist of 30 potential winners to be disclosed on October 8th? Whoever he is, the next person designated as the year’s best player will for the very first time receive, in addition to the Ballon d’OrTM award itself, an exceptional timepiece – specifically made for the occasion by Purnell.
“The Ballon d’OrTM is to football what the Academy Awards or the Palme d’Or are to cinema: the ultimate award,” comments Purnell’s CEO, Maurizio Mazzocchi. “Football is the most popular sport in the world and the Ballon d’OrTM its most prestigious distinction. This is the reason why we have decided to become officially associated with an event that has such a worldwide stature. While other brands sponsor clubs and competitions, Purnell, which has a special edge given its extremely high-end positioning – indeed, our models’ average pricing is the highest in the watchmaking industry – could only attach its name to the very best players, the Ballon d’OrTM winners.”
Purnell, or the magic of the Spherion
Established in Geneva since 2020, the House of Purnell, a newcomer in the sphere of haute horlogerie, is exclusively dedicated to the design and manufacturing of Tourbillon watches, as single pieces or extremely limited editions. Expert in the knowledge of gravitational forces, its master watchmaker Éric Coudray has designed a high-speed triple-axis tourbillon named the Spherion, one of the most beautiful and mesmerizing displays of horology magic one could ever imagine.
Though the tourbillon itself was invented in 1801, Purnell has definitely propelled it into the future through the very concept of the Spherion and the avant-garde design of its watches – in complete harmony with the brand’s motto: More future than past.
Fabio Cannavaro, 2006 Ballon d’OrTM winner and Purnell Brand Hero
Although traditionally awarded to a playmaker or a forward, the Ballon d’OrTM was in 2006 given to a defender, Fabio Cannavaro. This ultimate prize rewarded at once the speed of his accelerations, the precision of his interventions in the game, and his impenetrable defence strategy. The captain who led the Italian team to victory in the 2006 World Cup, he also distinguished himself during his entire career under the colours of several leading football clubs such as Napoli, Juventus or Real Madrid. Now active as a coach, Fabio Cannavaro devotes his time to making football a unifying force around the world, a commitment which, beyond the man’s talent as a football player, convinced Purnell to choose him as its first Brand Hero.
“When I wear a Purnell watch, I can’t help but be fascinated with the speed and performance of its tourbillons, enhanced by a unique design,” Fabio Cannavaro confides. “I admire Purnell’s determination to always push the boundaries of what is possible through its watches whose performance is second to none, and I am proud to have my name associated with Purnell and its unique watchmaking culture.”
The Ballon d’Or, a legendary award
Created in 1956 by the French weekly magazine France Football, the Ballon d’OrTM is awarded annually to the best player of the year by a panel of international journalists. Exceptionally, it was not presented in 2020 because of the pandemic. Its universal influence has received unanimous recognition, and the 2021 Ballon d’OrTM presentation on November 29 is expected to be one of the most widely followed and commented events on social media.
The Women’s Ballon d’OrTM was created in 2018 to support the increasing popularity of women’s football and highlight the talent of both club and national team players.
