Ballon d’Or
Stanley Matthews winner first Ballon d’Or 1965
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 (2022) is Karim Benzema
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 (2022) is Karim Benzema
List of Men’s Ballon d’Or winners
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Team |
| 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
|
7 | 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 | |
| 1 | 2001 | |
| 1 | 1991 | |
| 1 | 1995 |
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