Ballon d’Or

Stanley Matthews winner first Ballon d’Or 1965

Stanley Matthews winner first Ballon d’Or 1965

The Ballon d’Or is an annual award that is presented to the world’s best footballer. Ever since its inception in 1956 (Winner: Stanley Matthews), the Ballon d’Or has been the most coveted and prestigious individual prize in all of football. Until 1995, it was widely referred to as the European Footballer of the Year as only players from Europe could win the prize. That year, the award was opened up to non-Europeans.

Between 2010 and 2015, the Ballon d’Or merged with FIFA’s ‘World Player of the Year’ award to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or. It returned to its former guise in 2016. Until 2022, it was awarded to the best footballer of the calendar year but it is now judged on the regular European football season (August to July).

An initial 30-man shortlist is compiled by the editors at France Football before votes are compiled from experts. The most recent winner of The Ballon d’Or (2023) is Lionel Messi

The Ballon d’Or is an annual award that is presented to the world’s best footballer. Ever since its inception in 1956 (Winner: Stanley Matthews), the Ballon d’Or has been the most coveted and prestigious individual prize in all of football. Until 1995, it was widely referred to as the European Footballer of the Year as only players from Europe could win the prize. That year, the award was opened up to non-Europeans.

Between 2010 and 2015, the Ballon d’Or merged with FIFA’s ‘World Player of the Year’ award to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or. It returned to its former guise in 2016. Until 2022, it was awarded to the best footballer of the calendar year but it is now judged on the regular European football season (August to July).

An initial 30-man shortlist is compiled by the editors at France Football before votes are compiled from experts. The most recent winner of The Ballon d’Or (2023) is Lionel Messi

List of Men's Ballon d'Or award winners

Year Player Team
2023 Lionel Messi
Inter Miami C.F.
2022 Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
2021 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
,
Paris Saint-Germain
2019 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
2018 Luka Modric
Real Madrid
2017 Cristiano Ronaldo 
Real Madrid
2016 Cristiano Ronaldo 
Real Madrid
2015 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
2014 Cristiano Ronaldo 
Real Madrid
2013 Cristiano Ronaldo 
Real Madrid
2012 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
2011 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
2010 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
2009 Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
2008 Cristiano Ronaldo 
Manchester United
2007 Kaká
AC Milan
2006 Fabio Cannavaro
Juventus FC
2005 Ronaldinho Gaúcho
FC Barcelona
2004 Andriy Shevchenko
AC Milan
2003 Pavel Nedved
Juventus FC
2002 Ronaldo
Inter Milan
,
Real Madrid
2001 Michael Owen
Liverpool FC
2000 Luis Figo
FC Barcelona
,
Real Madrid
1999 Rivaldo
FC Barcelona
1998 Zinédine Zidane
Juventus FC
1997 Ronaldo
FC Barcelona
,
Inter Milan
1996 Matthias Sammer
Borussia Dortmund
1995 George Weah
Paris Saint-Germain
,
AC Milan
1994 Hristo Stoichkov
FC Barcelona
1993 Roberto Baggio
Juventus FC
1992 Marco van Basten
AC Milan
1991 Jean-Pierre Papin
Olympique Marseille
1990 Leon Schmidt
Inter Milan
1989 Marco van Basten
AC Milan
1988 Marco van Basten
AC Milan
1987 Ruud Gullit
AC Milan
1986 Igor Belanov
Dynamo Kyiv
1985 Michel Platini
Juventus FC
1984 Michel Platini
Juventus FC
1983 Michel Platini
Juventus FC
1982 Paolo Rossi
Juventus FC
1981 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
FC Bayern Munich
1980 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
FC Bayern Munich
1979 Kevin Keegan
Hamburger SV
1978 Kevin Keegan
Hamburger SV
1977 Allan Simonsen
Gladbach
1976 Franz Beckenbauer
FC Bayern Munich
1975 Oleg Blokhin
Dynamo Kyiv
1974 Johan Cruyff
FC Barcelona
1973 Johan Cruyff
Ajax Amsterdam
,
FC Barcelona
1972 Franz Beckenbauer
FC Bayern Munich
1971 Johan Cruyff
Ajax Amsterdam
1970 Gerd Müller
FC Bayern Munich
1969 Gianni Rivera
AC Milan
1968 George Best
Manchester United
1967 Flórián Albert
Ferencvárosi TC
1966 Bobby Charlton
Manchester United
1965 Eusébio
SL Benfica
1964 Denis Law
Manchester United
1963 Lev Yashin
Dynamo Moscow
1962 Josef Masopust
FK Dukla Prague
1961 Omar Sívori
Juventus FC
1960 Luis Suárez
FC Barcelona
1959 Alfredo di Stefano
Real Madrid
1958 Raymond Kopa
Real Madrid
1957 Alfredo di Stefano
Real Madrid
1956 Stanley Matthews
Blackpool FC

Ballon d’Or winners by nationality

Country Win(s) Year(s)
Argentina
Argentina
8 2023, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
France
France
7 2022, 1998, 1991, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1958
Germany
Germany
7 1996, 1990, 1981, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1970
Netherlands
Netherlands
7 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1974, 1973, 1971
Portugal
Portugal
7 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008, 2000, 1965
Brazil
Brazil
5 2007, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1997
England
England
5 2001, 1979, 1978, 1966, 1956
Italy
Italy
5 2006, 1993, 1982, 1969, 1961
Soviet Union
3 1986, 1975, 1963
Spain
Spain
3 1960, 1959, 1957
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
1 1994
Croatia
Croatia
1 2018
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
1 2003
Czechoslovakia
1 1962
Denmark
Denmark
1 1977
Hungary
Hungary
1 1967
Liberia
Liberia
1 1995
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
1 1968
Scotland
Scotland
1 1964
Ukraine
Ukraine
1 2004

Ballon d’Or winners by club

Country Win(s) Year(s)
14 2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1994, 1974, 1960
9 2006, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1961
9 2022, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 1959, 1958, 1957
7 2007, 2004, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1969
5 1981, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1970
4 2008, 1968, 1966, 1964
2 1973, 1971
2 1986, 1975
2 1979, 1978
2 2002, 1990
1 1965
1 1956
1 1963
1 1996
1 1962
1 1967
1 1977
Inter Miami C.F.
1 2023
1 2001
1 1991
1 1995