India, Sept. 23 -- Every sport wrestles with the same question with each of its passing generation: when is a player at their absolute best? Well, football is not an exception to this query. From managers calculating contract extensions to scouts evaluating transfer targets, understanding the peak performance windows drives billion-dollar decisions. Few datasets would give us the peek into elite football excellence than the Ballon d'Or, awarded annually since 1956 to the world's best player.

The analysis of every winner from Stanley Matthews to Ousmane Dembele reveals patterns that challenge conventional wisdom about when footballers truly peak.

Since 1956, Ballon d'Or winners have averaged 27.4 years old, with a median around 27. This ...