Ballon d’Or
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 |
---|---|---|
Year | Player | Team |
2023 |
Lionel Messi
|
Inter Miami C.F.
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
Fabio Cannavaro
|
Juventus FC
|
2005 |
Ronaldinho Gaúcho
|
FC Barcelona
|
2004 |
Andriy Shevchenko
|
AC Milan
|
2003 |
Pavel Nedved
|
Juventus FC
|
2002 |
Ronaldo
Ronaldo
|
Inter Milan
,
Real Madrid
|
2001 |
Michael Owen
|
Liverpool FC
|
2000 |
Luis Figo
|
FC Barcelona
,
Real Madrid
|
1999 |
Rivaldo
Rivaldo
|
FC Barcelona
|
1998 |
Zinédine Zidane
|
Juventus FC
|
1997 |
Ronaldo
Ronaldo
|
FC Barcelona
,
Inter Milan
|
1996 |
Matthias Sammer
Matthias Sammer
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
1995 |
George Weah
|
Paris Saint-Germain
,
AC Milan
|
1994 |
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov
|
FC Barcelona
|
1993 |
Roberto Baggio
|
Juventus FC
|
1992 |
Marco van Basten
Marco van Basten
|
AC Milan
|
1991 |
Jean-Pierre Papin
|
Olympique Marseille
|
1990 |
Leon Schmidt
|
Inter Milan
|
1989 |
Marco van Basten
Marco van Basten
|
AC Milan
|
1988 |
Marco van Basten
Marco van Basten
|
AC Milan
|
1987 |
Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
|
AC Milan
|
1986 |
Igor Belanov
Igor Belanov
|
Dynamo Kyiv
|
1985 |
Michel Platini
Michel Platini
|
Juventus FC
|
1984 |
Michel Platini
Michel Platini
|
Juventus FC
|
1983 |
Michel Platini
Michel Platini
|
Juventus FC
|
1982 |
Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi
|
Juventus FC
|
1981 |
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
|
FC Bayern Munich
|
1980 |
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
|
FC Bayern Munich
|
1979 |
Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
|
Hamburger SV
|
1978 |
Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
|
Hamburger SV
|
1977 |
Allan Simonsen
|
Gladbach
|
1976 |
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
|
FC Bayern Munich
|
1975 |
Oleg Blokhin
Oleg Blokhin
|
Dynamo Kyiv
|
1974 |
Johan Cruyff
|
FC Barcelona
|
1973 |
Johan Cruyff
|
Ajax Amsterdam
,
FC Barcelona
|
1972 |
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
|
FC Bayern Munich
|
1971 |
Johan Cruyff
|
Ajax Amsterdam
|
1970 |
Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller
|
FC Bayern Munich
|
1969 |
Gianni Rivera
Gianni Rivera
|
AC Milan
|
1968 |
George Best
George Best
|
Manchester United
|
1967 |
Flórián Albert
Flórián Albert
|
Ferencvárosi TC
|
1966 |
Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton
|
Manchester United
|
1965 |
Eusébio
Eusébio
|
SL Benfica
|
1964 |
Denis Law
Denis Law
|
Manchester United
|
1963 |
Lev Yashin
Lev Yashin
|
Dynamo Moscow
|
1962 |
Josef Masopust
|
FK Dukla Prague
|
1961 |
Omar Sívori
Omar Sívori
|
Juventus FC
|
1960 |
Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez
|
FC Barcelona
|
1959 |
Alfredo di Stefano
|
Real Madrid
|
1958 |
Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa
|
Real Madrid
|
1957 |
Alfredo di Stefano
|
Real Madrid
|
1956 |
Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
|
Blackpool FC
|
Ballon d’Or winners by nationality
Country | Win(s) | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
Argentina
|
8 | 2023, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 |
France
|
7 | 2022, 1998, 1991, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1958 |
Germany
|
7 | 1996, 1990, 1981, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1970 |
Netherlands
|
7 | 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1974, 1973, 1971 |
Portugal
|
7 | 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2008, 2000, 1965 |
Brazil
|
5 | 2007, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1997 |
England
|
5 | 2001, 1979, 1978, 1966, 1956 |
Italy
|
5 | 2006, 1993, 1982, 1969, 1961 |
Soviet Union
|
3 | 1986, 1975, 1963 |
Spain
|
3 | 1960, 1959, 1957 |
Bulgaria
|
1 | 1994 |
Croatia
|
1 | 2018 |
Czech Republic
|
1 | 2003 |
Czechoslovakia
|
1 | 1962 |
Denmark
|
1 | 1977 |
Hungary
|
1 | 1967 |
Liberia
|
1 | 1995 |
Northern Ireland
|
1 | 1968 |
Scotland
|
1 | 1964 |
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 |
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