Ballon d’Or Winner’s List Since 1956-2024

For over 65 years, the Ballon d’Or has been the ultimate symbol of greatness in football. It’s the one award that every player dreams of winning, and the one that cements a player’s legacy in the history books.

Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded to the best of the best – the players who have left us in awe with their skill, dedication, and passion for the beautiful game.

From Sir Stanley Matthews to Lionel Messi, and from Johan Cruyff to Cristiano Ronaldo, the list of winners reads like a who’s who of football royalty.

Over the years, the award has evolved to reflect the changing landscape of football. In 1995, the rules were expanded to include players from outside Europe, and in 2007, the award was opened to players from around the world.

In 2010, it merged with the FIFA Player of the Year award, solidifying its status as the most prestigious individual honor in football.

Today, the Ballon d’Or continues to inspire generations of footballers, and its winners are revered as heroes and role models.

A Brief History Of The Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or has been the crowning point of recognition for the world’s most exceptional footballers.

Birthed in 1956 from the vision of two French journalists, Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran, this esteemed award was initially conceived to honor the continent’s top talent.

What began as the European Footballer of the Year award has evolved into a global celebration of footballing excellence.

For most of its history, a panel of European journalists has held the power to decide the Ballon d’Or winner, casting their votes to crown the best of the best.

Initially, only European players were eligible, but a rule change in 1995 opened the door to global talent, as long as they plied their trade in Europe.

This shift paved the way for Liberia’s George Weah to make history as the first non-European winner and, to date, the only African player to claim the award.

Despite some criticism over the years – with some arguing that the award prioritizes popularity over performance and favors attackers over defenders – the Ballon d’Or remains the most coveted individual prize in football.

Winning this award is a badge of honor that few can claim, and those who do join an exclusive club of legends.

Ballon d’Or Winner’s List Since 1956

Year	Winner

1956	Stanley Matthews

1957	Alfredo Di Stéfano

1958	Raymond Kopa

1959	Alfredo Di Stéfano

1960	Luis Suárez

1961	Omar Sivori

1962	Josef Masopust

1963	Lev Yashin

1964

Denis Law

1965

Eusébio

1966	Bobby Charlton

1967	Flórián Albert

1968	George Best

1969	Gianni Rivera

1970	Gerd Müller

1971	Johan Cruyff

1972	Franz Beckenbauer

1973	Johan Cruyff

1974	Johan Cruyff

1975	Oleh Blokhin

1976	Franz Beckenbauer

1977	Allan Simonsen

1978	Kevin Keegan

1979	Kevin Keegan

1980	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

1981	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

1982	Paolo Rossi

1983	Michel Platini

1984	Michel Platini

1985	Michel Platini

1986	Ihor Belanov

1987	Ruud Gullit

1988	Marco van Basten

1989	Marco van Basten

1990	Lothar Matthäus

1991	Jean-Pierre Papin

1992	Marco van Basten

1993	Roberto Baggio

1994	Hristo Stoichkov

1995	George Weah

1996	Matthias Sammer

1997

Ronaldo

1998	Zinédine Zidane

1999

Rivaldo

2000

Luís Figo

2001	Michael Owen

2002

Ronaldo

2003	Pavel Nedvěd

2004	Andriy Shevchenko

2005	Ronaldinho

2006	Fabio Cannavaro

2007

Kaká

2008	Cristiano Ronaldo

2009	Lionel Messi

2010	Lionel Messi

2011	Lionel Messi

2012	Lionel Messi

2013	Cristiano Ronaldo

2014	Cristiano Ronaldo

2015	Lionel Messi

2016	Cristiano Ronaldo

2017	Cristiano Ronaldo

2018	Luka Modrić

2019	Lionel Messi

2020

Cancelled

2021	Lionel Messi

2022	Karim Benzema

2023	Lionel Messi

Ballon d’Or Féminin

2018	Ada Hegerberg

2019	Megan Rapinoe

2021	Alexia Putellas

2022	Alexia Putellas

2023	Aitana Bonmatí

How Is The Ballon d’Or Award Selected?

The Ballon d’Or is decided by a panel of esteemed journalists who cast their votes to determine the winner.

In a move to increase the award’s global representation, a change was introduced in 2022 to restrict voting to journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings for the men’s award.

Here’s how the voting process works: each journalist selects their top five players, with a weighted points system that rewards their top choice with six points, followed by four points for second place, three for third, two for fourth, and one point for fifth.

When casting their votes, journalists consider three key factors: a player’s performance during the previous European season, their team’s success, and their conduct on and off the pitch, including fair play.

Particularly, career achievements and long-term excellence are not taken into account.

The Ballon d’Or is normally awarded in September, but for the 2024 edition, the presentation will take place after the Champions League Final, Euro 2024, and the Paris Olympics, making it a fitting climax to a thrilling football season.

SEE ALSO | Mary Earps Biography: Age, Family, Partner, Net Worth | 2024

SEE ALSO | Helpful Strength Training for Female Soccer Players

Who Has Won The Most Ballon d’Or Awards?

As the table above shows, the past 15 years have been an attestation to the unparalleled brilliance of two football titans: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Between them, they’ve claimed an astonishing 13 Ballon d’Or awards since 2008, with only Luka Modric and Karim Benzema briefly interrupting their dominance.

Messi, the Argentine maestro, has been the most prolific, scooping a record eight Ballon d’Or titles – a feat that cements his status as the most decorated player in the award’s history.

His nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has five wins to his name, with his first win coming in 2008 and his most recent in 2017.

A select few have managed to win the award three times – Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten – but Messi’s record stands tall, an indication of his extraordinary talent and dedication. It’s a benchmark that will be incredibly challenging to surpass.