Ballon d’Or Winners

The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by France Football magazine. It is considered one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, recognizing the best male football player in the world. The award has a rich history, dating back to 1956, and has been won by footballing legends who have left an indelible mark on the sport.

Stanley Matthews (1956): Known for his dribbling skills and longevity, Matthews played for Stoke City and Blackpool. His unique style and skill earned him the inaugural Ballon d’Or.

Alfredo Di Stéfano (1957, 1959): The Argentine-Spanish forward was a key figure in Real Madrid’s European domination during the 1950s, winning numerous La Liga and European Cup titles.

Raymond Kopa (1958): The French playmaker played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s success during his time, contributing to three European Cup victories.

Luis Suárez (1960): The Spanish midfielder, was a vital part of Barcelona’s legendary team of the 1950s, achieving domestic and European success.

Omar Sívori (1961): An Argentine-Italian forward, excelled at Juventus and helped them to secure Serie A titles.

Josef Masopust (1962): The Czechoslovakian midfielder’s vision and passing ability contributed to success with Dukla Prague and the national team.

Lev Yashin (1963, 1969): Also known as the Black Spider, the Russian goalkeeper was known for his revolutionary goalkeeping style. He spent his entire career at Dynamo Moscow and was a true shot-stopping legend.

Denis Law (1964): The prolific Scottish forward played for Manchester United and represented Scotland, earning a Ballon d’Or for his goal-scoring prowess.

Eusébio (1965): The Portuguese forward was a goal-scoring sensation for Benfica and Portugal, helping them reach the 1966 World Cup semi-finals. He was nicknamed as the ‘Black Pearl’.

Bobby Charlton (1966): Another iconic figure from the England national team, Charlton’s long-range shooting and midfield presence made him a legend at Manchester United.

Flórián Albert (1967): The Hungarian forward, was a crucial player for Ferencváros and Hungary, showcasing his attacking skills. His elegance on the ball earned him ‘The Emperor’ nickname.

George Best (1968): The talented Northern Irish forward is still remembered for his incredible dribbling and skill, primarily showcased at Manchester United whilst winning the European Cup.

Gianni Rivera (1969): The Italian midfielder was a symbol of AC Milan’s success during his era, known for his technical ability and vision.

Gerd Müller (1970): The German striker was a goal machine for Bayern Munich and the national team, earning the Ballon d’Or accolade for his goal scoring exploits.

Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973, 1974): The Dutch legend, embodied the total football philosophy. His successful spells at Ajax and Barcelona marked an era of football innovation.

Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976): The German defender, nicknamed “Der Kaiser,” led Bayern Munich and the national team to success, winning multiple Ballon d’Or awards.

Oleg Blokhin (1975): The Ukrainian forward was a prolific scorer for Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team. He played a vital role in Dynamo Kyiv’s European success.

Allan Simonsen (1977) – The Danish forward had a successful career with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Barcelona. He was known for his goal-scoring ability.

Kevin Keegan (1978, 1979) – The English forward played for Liverpool and Hamburg, helping both clubs to domestic and European success. He was a dynamic attacker.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (1980, 1981) – The German forward was a star for Bayern Munich and the national team. He won multiple Bundesliga titles and the European Cup.

Paolo Rossi (1982): The Italian forward led Italy to World Cup glory in 1982 and enjoyed success with Juventus and AC Milan.

Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985): The French midfielder was a maestro on the pitch, winning three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards and achieving success with Juventus.

Igor Belanov (1986): The Soviet forward was instrumental in Dynamo Kyiv’s European success, including their 1986 Cup Winners’ Cup victory.

Ruud Gullit (1987): The Dutch midfielder was a key figure at AC Milan during their dominant era, contributing to their European Cup wins.

Marco van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992): Another Dutch legend, Van Basten, was a prolific scorer who excelled at AC Milan and Ajax. At international level he helped the Dutch to European Championship success.

Lothar Matthäus (1990): The versatile German midfielder played for Inter Milan and the national team, showcasing his all-around skills. At international level he helped West Germany to lift the World Cup.

Jean-Pierre Papin (1991): The French striker was a goal-scoring sensation for Marseille, earning the Ballon d’Or for his prolific scoring.

Roberto Baggio (1993) – The Italian forward, known for his dribbling skills and playmaking ability, had a successful career with Fiorentina, Juventus, and AC Milan. Baggio was a pivotal figure in Italy’s national team and won the Ballon d’Or in recognition of his outstanding performances during that year.

Hristo Stoichkov (1994): The Bulgarian forward was a key player for Barcelona during the early 1990s, known for his attacking flair.

George Weah (1995): The Liberian striker, playing for AC Milan, was known for his pace and skill, becoming the first African to win the Ballon d’Or.

Matthias Sammer (1996): The versatile German defender/midfielder played a crucial role in Borussia Dortmund’s success, winning the Bundesliga and European Cup.

Ronaldo (1997, 2002): Ronaldo, the Brazilian striker, known as “O Fenômeno,” achieved World Cup victories and had stellar club careers at Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane (1998): The French playmaker was a key figure in France’s 1998 World Cup victory and enjoyed success with Juventus and Real Madrid.

Rivaldo (1999): Another Brazilian superstar, Rivaldo, was a creative force for Barcelona and AC Milan, winning numerous titles.

Luis Figo (2000): The Portuguese winger’s dribbling and crossing abilities were instrumental at Barcelona and later Real Madrid.

Michael Owen (2001): The English striker burst onto the scene with Liverpool, winning the Ballon d’Or at a young age.

Ronaldo (2002): Ronaldo reclaimed the Ballon d’Or in 2002, following his incredible performances in the FIFA World Cup.

Pavel Nedvěd (2003): The Czech midfielder was a key figure at Juventus and was instrumental in their domestic and European success.

Andriy Shevchenko (2004): The Ukrainian striker was a prolific scorer for AC Milan and later had a spell at Chelsea.

Ronaldinho (2005): The Brazilian forward was known for his dazzling skills and played a crucial role in Barcelona’s success.

Fabio Cannavaro (2006): The Italian defender led Italy to World Cup victory in 2006 and was a solid presence in the backline.

Kaká (2007): The Brazilian playmaker had a fantastic season with AC Milan, contributing to their Champions League triumph.

Cristiano Ronaldo (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018): The Portuguese forward began his dominance of the Ballon d’Or with Manchester United before moving on to Real Madrid and later Juventus.

Lionel Messi (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023): Often regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, Messi has won multiple Ballon d’Or awards during his illustrious career with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Luka Modrić (2018): The Croatian midfielder won the Ballon d’Or after leading Croatia to the World Cup final and having an outstanding season with Real Madrid.

Karim Benzema (2022): The French forward played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s success and was awarded the Ballon d’Or for his contributions.

Which up and coming players do you think will be featuring in this illustrious list of Ballon d’Or winners in the future?