Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or is an annual award that is presented to the world’s best soccer player. Ever since its inception in 1956 (Winner: Stanley Matthews), the Ballon d’Or has been the most coveted and prestigious individual prize in 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

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List of Men’s Ballon d’Or winners

Year	Player	Team
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	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)
FC Barcelona	14	2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1994, 1974, 1960
Juventus FC	9	2006, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1961
Real Madrid	9	2022, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 1959, 1958, 1957
AC Milan	7	2007, 2004, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1969
FC Bayern Munich	5	1981, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1970
Manchester United	4	2008, 1968, 1966, 1964
Ajax Amsterdam	2	1973, 1971
Dynamo Kyiv	2	1986, 1975
Hamburger SV	2	1979, 1978
Inter Milan	2	2002, 1990
SL Benfica	1	1965
Blackpool FC	1	1956
Dynamo Moscow	1	1963
Borussia Dortmund	1	1996
FK Dukla Prague	1	1962
Ferencvárosi TC	1	1967
Gladbach	1	1977
Inter Miami C.F.	1	2023
Liverpool FC	1	2001
Olympique Marseille	1	1991
Paris Saint-Germain	1	1995