Ballon D'Or Winners: The Complete List

Oct 22, 2025 by HITNEWS 39 views

The Ballon d'Or, guys, is like the holy grail of individual football awards! It's that shiny golden ball that every footballer dreams of holding high. Awarded annually, it recognizes the best male and female football players in the world. So, who are these legends who've etched their names in football history by winning this prestigious award? Let's dive into the complete list of Ballon d'Or winners and relive some magical moments!

A Brief History of the Ballon d'Or

Before we get to the winners, let's have a quick rewind to understand the Ballon d'Or's origins. It was conceived by Gabriel Hanot, a French football journalist, who asked his colleagues to vote for the best player in Europe in 1956. Initially, only European players were eligible, which, as you can imagine, sparked some debate over the years. The OG winner was Stanley Matthews, an English legend known for his dazzling dribbling skills and longevity. For decades, the award was organized solely by France Football magazine, a reputable source in the football world. Over the years, they tweaked the eligibility rules, including expanding it to all players in European clubs in 1995 and then to all players worldwide in 2007.

The criteria for winning the Ballon d'Or have also evolved. Initially, it was largely based on journalists' opinions. These days, votes are cast by journalists, national team coaches, and captains, providing a broader and more balanced assessment. Factors considered include individual performance, team success, overall quality and fair play. The Ballon d'Or even merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year award from 2010 to 2015, creating the FIFA Ballon d'Or, before splitting again. The women's Ballon d'Or, known as the Ballon d'Or Féminin, was introduced in 2018, finally recognizing the incredible achievements of female footballers on a global stage. This addition was a huge step forward for the sport, giving women the recognition they have long deserved. The Ballon d'Or ceremony itself is a glamorous affair, attended by the biggest names in football and entertainment. It’s a night of celebration, anticipation, and sometimes, controversy, as fans and pundits debate the merits of each nominee. From its humble beginnings to its current status as the most coveted individual award in football, the Ballon d'Or has a rich history that reflects the evolution of the beautiful game.

The Men's Ballon d'Or Winners: A Year-by-Year Breakdown

Alright, let's get to the juicy part – the list of Ballon d'Or winners! We'll go through each year, highlighting some of the standout winners and their achievements:

1956: Stanley Matthews (England) – The first-ever winner, recognized for his incredible career and sportsmanship.
1957: Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain) – A Real Madrid legend, Di Stéfano dominated European football with his goal-scoring prowess.
1958: Raymond Kopa (France) – Another Real Madrid star, Kopa was a skillful attacking midfielder who contributed to the team's European success.
1959: Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain) – Di Stéfano wins again, cementing his status as one of the greatest.
1960: Luis Suárez (Spain) – Not to be confused with the Uruguayan striker, this Suárez was a Barcelona icon.
1961: Omar Sívori (Italy) – An Argentinian-Italian forward known for his dribbling and flair.
1962: Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia) – A legendary midfielder who led Czechoslovakia to the World Cup final.
1963: Lev Yashin (Soviet Union) – The only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or, Yashin was a true icon.
1964: Denis Law (Scotland) – A Manchester United legend, Law was a prolific goal scorer.
1965: Eusébio (Portugal) – The "Black Panther," Eusébio was a phenomenal striker with incredible pace and power.
1966: Bobby Charlton (England) – A key figure in England's World Cup-winning team.
1967: Flórián Albert (Hungary) – A Hungarian forward known for his technical skills and goal-scoring ability.
1968: George Best (Northern Ireland) – A mesmerizing talent, Best was one of the first true football superstars.
1969: Gianni Rivera (Italy) – An elegant playmaker who led AC Milan to European glory.
1970: Gerd Müller (West Germany) – "Der Bomber" was a goal-scoring machine for Bayern Munich and Germany.
1971: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) – The architect of "Total Football," Cruyff revolutionized the game.
1972: Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany) – "Der Kaiser" was a dominant defender and leader.
1973: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) – Cruyff wins again, solidifying his legendary status.
1974: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) – A third Ballon d'Or for Cruyff, a testament to his genius.
1975: Oleg Blokhin (Soviet Union) – A Ukrainian striker known for his speed and goal-scoring ability.
1976: Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany) – Beckenbauer's second Ballon d'Or reflects his dominance in defense.
1977: Allan Simonsen (Denmark) – A Danish forward who starred for Borussia Mönchengladbach and Barcelona.
1978: Kevin Keegan (England) – Keegan was an energetic and skillful forward.
1979: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) – A powerful striker who led Bayern Munich to European success.
1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) – Rummenigge wins again, showcasing his consistency.
1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) – A third Ballon d'Or for Rummenigge, cementing his legacy.
1982: Paolo Rossi (Italy) – Rossi's goals led Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup.
1983: Michel Platini (France) – A graceful midfielder with an eye for goal.
1984: Michel Platini (France) – Platini's second Ballon d'Or reflects his continued excellence.
1985: Michel Platini (France) – A third consecutive Ballon d'Or for Platini, a remarkable achievement.
1986: Igor Belanov (Soviet Union) – A Ukrainian forward who impressed at the 1986 World Cup.
1987: Ruud Gullit (Netherlands) – A versatile player who was part of AC Milan's legendary team.
1988: Marco van Basten (Netherlands) – A clinical striker with incredible technique.
1989: Marco van Basten (Netherlands) – Van Basten wins again, solidifying his reputation as one of the best.
1990: Lothar Matthäus (West Germany) – A commanding midfielder who captained Germany to World Cup glory.
1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (France) – A prolific goal scorer for Marseille.
1992: Marco van Basten (Netherlands) – A third Ballon d'Or for Van Basten, despite his career being cut short by injury.
1993: Roberto Baggio (Italy) – A creative playmaker with a flair for the spectacular.
1994: Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) – A key player in Barcelona's "Dream Team."
1995: George Weah (Liberia) – The first African player to win the Ballon d'Or, Weah was a powerful and skillful striker.
1996: Matthias Sammer (Germany) – A sweeper who led Germany to victory at Euro 96.
1997: Ronaldo (Brazil) – "O Fenômeno" was a phenomenon, with his incredible speed, skill, and goal-scoring ability.
1998: Zinedine Zidane (France) – Zidane's performance at the 1998 World Cup cemented his status as a legend.
1999: Rivaldo (Brazil) – A skillful and versatile attacker who starred for Barcelona.
2000: Luís Figo (Portugal) – Figo was a world-class winger with incredible dribbling skills.
2001: Michael Owen (England) – Owen was a young prodigy with blistering pace and a knack for scoring goals.
2002: Ronaldo (Brazil) – Ronaldo wins his second Ballon d'Or after leading Brazil to World Cup glory.
2003: Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic) – A dynamic midfielder with a powerful shot.
2004: Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) – A prolific goal scorer for AC Milan.
2005: Ronaldinho (Brazil) – Ronaldinho's dazzling skills and infectious smile made him a global icon.
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) – Cannavaro captained Italy to victory at the 2006 World Cup.
2007: Kaká (Brazil) – Kaká was an elegant attacking midfielder with incredible vision and passing ability.
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – The beginning of Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or dominance.
2009: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Messi's first Ballon d'Or marked the start of his era.
2010: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Messi continues his reign as the world's best.
2011: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – A third consecutive Ballon d'Or for Messi, an unprecedented achievement.
2012: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Messi makes history with his fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or.
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – Ronaldo breaks Messi's streak and wins his second Ballon d'Or.
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – Ronaldo wins again, solidifying his rivalry with Messi.
2015: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Messi reclaims the Ballon d'Or for a record fifth time.
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – Ronaldo wins his fourth Ballon d'Or after a successful year with Real Madrid and Portugal.
2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – Ronaldo equals Messi's record with his fifth Ballon d'Or.
2018: Luka Modrić (Croatia) – Modrić breaks the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly after leading Croatia to the World Cup final.
2019: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Messi wins his record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or.
2020: Not Awarded (COVID-19 Pandemic) – The Ballon d'Or was not awarded due to the disruption caused by the pandemic.
2021: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Messi wins his seventh Ballon d'Or, extending his record.
2022: Karim Benzema (France) - Benzema wins his first Ballon d'Or, recognizing his outstanding performances for Real Madrid.
2023: Lionel Messi (Argentina) - Messi wins his eight Ballon d'Or, extending his record.

The Women's Ballon d'Or Winners: A New Era

The Ballon d'Or Féminin, introduced in 2018, celebrates the achievements of the best female footballers in the world. Here are the winners so far:

2018: Ada Hegerberg (Norway) – The first-ever winner of the Ballon d'Or Féminin, Hegerberg is a prolific goal scorer for Lyon.
2019: Megan Rapinoe (United States) – Rapinoe led the USWNT to victory at the 2019 World Cup and is a vocal advocate for social justice.
2020: Not Awarded (COVID-19 Pandemic) – Like the men's award, the Ballon d'Or Féminin was not awarded in 2020.
2021: Alexia Putellas (Spain) – Putellas is a Barcelona captain and a key player for the Spanish national team.
2022: Alexia Putellas (Spain) - Putellas wins her second Ballon d'Or Féminin, cementing her status as one of the best.
2023: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain) - Bonmatí wins her first Ballon d'Or Féminin, recognizing her outstanding performances for Barcelona and Spain.

Key Takeaways and Stats

Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or wins with eight titles.
Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five Ballon d'Or awards.
The Netherlands, Germany, and France are tied for the most Ballon d'Or wins by country with seven titles each.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have the most Ballon d'Or winners among clubs.
Lev Yashin remains the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d'Or.

The Ballon d'Or is more than just an award; it's a symbol of individual excellence, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness in football. The list of winners reads like a who's who of football legends, each with their unique story and contribution to the beautiful game. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or just curious about the sport, the Ballon d'Or is a fascinating topic that sparks debate and celebrates the very best in the world of football.

So, there you have it – the complete list of Ballon d'Or winners! It's a journey through football history, filled with iconic players, memorable moments, and the enduring magic of the game. Who will be the next name added to this prestigious list? Only time will tell!