Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of football. It is given annually to the best male football player in the world, as voted by a panel of international journalists and national team coaches and captains. The award was first introduced in 1956 by the French football magazine, France Football, and has since become one of the most sought-after accolades in the sport.
Over the years, several legendary players have been honored with the Ballon d’Or, cementing their status as the best in the world. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, these players have consistently showcased their exceptional skills and talent, captivating football fans worldwide.
Here is a complete list of Ballon d’Or winners since its inception:
1. 1956 – Stanley Matthews (Blackpool and England)
2. 1957 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid and Spain/Argentina)
3. 1958 – Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid and France)
4. 1959 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid and Spain/Argentina)
5. 1960 – Luis Suarez (Barcelona and Spain)
6. 1961 – Omar Sivori (Juventus and Italy/Argentina)
7. 1962 – Josef Masopust (Dukla Prague and Czechoslovakia)
8. 1963 – Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moscow and USSR)
9. 1964 – Denis Law (Manchester United and Scotland)
10. 1965 – Eusebio (Benfica and Portugal)
11. 1966 – Bobby Charlton (Manchester United and England)
12. 1967 – Florian Albert (Ferencvaros and Hungary)
13. 1968 – George Best (Manchester United and Northern Ireland)
14. 1969 – Gianni Rivera (AC Milan and Italy)
15. 1970 – Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich and West Germany)
16. 1971 – Johan Cruyff (Ajax and Netherlands)
17. 1972 – Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich and West Germany)
18. 1973 – Johan Cruyff (Barcelona and Netherlands)
19. 1974 – Johan Cruyff (Barcelona and Netherlands)
20. 1975 – Oleg Blokhin (Dynamo Kyiv and USSR)
21. 1976 – Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich and West Germany)
22. 1977 – Allan Simonsen (Borussia Monchengladbach and Denmark)
23. 1978 – Kevin Keegan (Hamburg and England)
24. 1979 – Kevin Keegan (Hamburg and England)
25. 1980 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich and West Germany)
26. 1981 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich and West Germany)
27. 1982 – Paolo Rossi (Juventus and Italy)
28. 1983 – Michel Platini (Juventus and France)
29. 1984 – Michel Platini (Juventus and France)
30. 1985 – Michel Platini (Juventus and France)
31. 1986 – Igor Belanov (Dynamo Kyiv and USSR)
32. 1987 – Ruud Gullit (AC Milan and Netherlands)
33. 1988 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan and Netherlands)
34. 1989 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan and Netherlands)
35. 1990 – Lothar Matthaus (Internazionale and West Germany)
36. 1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille and France)
37. 1992 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan and Netherlands)
38. 1993 – Roberto Baggio (Juventus and Italy)
39. 1994 – Hristo Stoichkov (Barcelona and Bulgaria)
40. 1995 – George Weah (AC Milan and Liberia)
41. 1996 – Matthias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)
42. 1997 – Ronaldo (Internazionale and Brazil)
43. 1998 – Zinedine Zidane (Juventus and France)
44. 1999 – Rivaldo (Barcelona and Brazil)
45. 2000 – Luis Figo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
46. 2001 – Michael Owen (Liverpool and England)
47. 2002 – Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Brazil)
48. 2003 – Pavel Nedved (Juventus and Czech Republic)
49. 2004 – Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan and Ukraine)
50. 2005 – Ronaldinho (Barcelona and Brazil)
51. 2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid and Italy)
52. 2007 – Kaka (AC Milan and Brazil)
53. 2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Portugal)
54. 2009 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
55. 2010 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
56. 2011 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
57. 2012 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
58. 2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
59. 2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
60. 2015 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
61. 2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
62. 2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
63. 2018 – Luka Modric (Real Madrid and Croatia)
64. 2019 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
65. 2020 – Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
66. 2021 – Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina)
These players have left an indelible mark on the sport, showcasing their extraordinary skills and abilities year after year. The Ballon d’Or not only recognizes their individual brilliance but also their immense contributions to their respective teams and the game as a whole.
The list is a testament to the incredible talent that has graced the football world over the years. It is a celebration of the dedication, perseverance, and hard work that these players have put into their careers, making them some of the greatest footballers of all time.
As the Ballon d’Or continues to be awarded annually, it will undoubtedly witness new faces and names etching their place in football history. The award serves as a constant reminder of the incredible talent that exists in the world of football and the endless possibilities that lie ahead for the future generations of players.
