The 1956 Ballon d'Or was awarded to which player who was the first to receive a knighthood while still active?
Ballon d'Or 1956: The 1956 Ballon d'Or, given to the best football player in Europe as judged by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries, was awarded to Stanley Matthews on 18 December 1956. Stanley Matthews: Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1 February 1915 – 23 February 2000) was an English footballer. Stanley Matthews:  Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the British game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing football, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards.
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE