Often hailed as one of the most prestigious honours in the world of professional football, the Ballon d’Or award is nothing short of a dream for a majority of international football players out there. Over the past few decades, numerous legendary football players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric and many others have claimed the coveted honour.
Interestingly, a few of these many trailblazing football stalwarts have managed to clinch the prestigious Ballon d’Or in the beginning of their career at a very young age leaving the football aficionados from all over the world absolutely stunned. Have you ever wondered about the top four youngest football players who have clinched the coveted and highly prestigious Ballon d’ Or award? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four football players who have clinched the Ballon d’Or award at a young age.
Top 4 Youngest Ballon d’Or Winners in Football History
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Ronaldo Nazário – 21 Years, 3 Months
The legendary Brazilian former professional football player Ronaldo Nazário is at the first spot in our list of the top four youngest footballers who have clinched the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Often popularly referred to as “R9”, Ronaldo Nazário is still regarded as one of the greatest professional football players of all-time.
The multi-functional striker, Ronaldo Nazário delivered a sensational performance with the FC Barcelona club throughout the 1996–97 season scoring a record total of 47 goals in 49 games that he played for the club. Ronaldo Nazário’s prolific goal-scoring ability on the field earned him the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 1997 at the age of twenty-one years and three months which continues to be the youngest age for any professional football player to claim the football’s highest honour as of September 2025.
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Michael Owen – 22 Years, 4 Months
At the second spot in our list of the top four football players who have clinched the Ballon d’Or award at a young age, we have the iconic English former professional football player Michael Owen, who played as a striker throughout his glorious career for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Stoke City, as well as the England national team.
Although Michael Owen announced his official retirement from professional football in 2013, his unmatched legacy continues to reverberate in the annals of world football. Michael Owen claimed his career’s first Ballon d’Or award in 2001, delivering sensational performances for the Liverpool club throughout the 2000-01 season and leading them to the historical treble of winning the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup. Michael Owen was honoured with the prestigious award at the age of 22 years and four months, making him the second-youngest football player to claim the honour as of September 2025.
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Lionel Messi – 22 Years, 5 Months
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four youngest footballers who have clinched the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, we have the legendary Argentine professional football player Lionel Messi, who is often regarded as one of the greatest professional football players of all-time.
After witnessing a spectacular 2008–09 season with FC Barcelona and scoring a phenomenal total of 38 goals throughout the season, leading the club to a historic treble — winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League, Lionel Messi was awarded with the Ballon d’Or award in 2009 at the age of twenty-two years and five months establishing him as the third-youngest professional football player to claim the coveted honour as of September 2025.
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George Best – 22 Years, 7 Months
Finally, at the fourth spot on our list of the top four football players who have clinched the Ballon d’Or award at a young age, we have the legendary Northern-Irish professional football player George Best, who played as a winger, spending the majority of his club career at Manchester United.
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Often hailed as one of the most influential and successful players in the history of football, George Best claimed his career’s first Ballon d’Or award in 1968 at the age of twenty-two years and seven months for leading Manchester United to sensational victories in the English First Division (now Premier League) and the European Cup (now UEFA Champions League). As of September 2025, George Best continues to be the fourth-youngest professional football player to win the prestigious award.
