Complete List Of Ballon d’Or Winners
The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, given every year to the best performing player in the world. Since its introduction in 1956, the award has celebrated some of the most iconic names in football history.
From Stanley Matthews to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the latest winners, the Ballon d’Or winners list represents the greatness of football across different generations. Here is the complete list from 1956 to 2024.
Ballon d’Or Winners Year by Year
| Year | Winner | Club at Time | Country |
| 1956 | Stanley Matthews | Blackpool | England |
| 1957 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Real Madrid | Argentina/Spain |
| 1958 | Raymond Kopa | Real Madrid | France |
| 1959 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Real Madrid | Argentina/Spain |
| 1960 | Luis Suárez | Barcelona | Spain |
| 1961 | Omar Sívori | Juventus | Italy |
| 1962 | Josef Masopust | Dukla Prague | Czechoslovakia |
| 1963 | Lev Yashin | Dynamo Moscow | Soviet Union |
| 1964 | Denis Law | Manchester United | Scotland |
| 1965 | Eusébio | Benfica | Portugal |
| 1966 | Bobby Charlton | Manchester United | England |
| 1967 | Flórián Albert | Ferencváros | Hungary |
| 1968 | George Best | Manchester United | Northern Ireland |
| 1969 | Gianni Rivera | AC Milan | Italy |
| 1970 | Gerd Müller | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1971 | Johan Cruyff | Ajax | Netherlands |
| 1972 | Franz Beckenbauer | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1973 | Johan Cruyff | Barcelona | Netherlands |
| 1974 | Johan Cruyff | Barcelona | Netherlands |
| 1975 | Oleg Blokhin | Dynamo Kyiv | Soviet Union |
| 1976 | Franz Beckenbauer | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1977 | Allan Simonsen | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Denmark |
| 1978 | Kevin Keegan | Hamburg | England |
| 1979 | Kevin Keegan | Hamburg | England |
| 1980 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1981 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Juventus | Italy |
| 1983 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1984 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1985 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1986 | Igor Belanov | Dynamo Kyiv | Soviet Union |
| 1987 | Ruud Gullit | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1988 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1989 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1990 | Lothar Matthäus | Inter Milan | Germany |
| 1991 | Jean-Pierre Papin | Marseille | France |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio | Juventus | Italy |
| 1994 | Hristo Stoichkov | Barcelona | Bulgaria |
| 1995 | George Weah | AC Milan | Liberia |
| 1996 | Matthias Sammer | Borussia Dortmund | Germany |
| 1997 | Ronaldo Nazário | Inter Milan | Brazil |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane | Juventus | France |
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Barcelona | Brazil |
| 2000 | Luís Figo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2001 | Michael Owen | Liverpool | England |
| 2002 | Ronaldo Nazário | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| 2003 | Pavel Nedvěd | Juventus | Czech Republic |
| 2004 | Andriy Shevchenko | AC Milan | Ukraine |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho | Barcelona | Brazil |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro | Real Madrid | Italy |
| 2007 | Kaká | AC Milan | Brazil |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | Portugal |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2018 | Luka Modrić | Real Madrid | Croatia |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2020 | Not Awarded | COVID-19 | – |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | Paris Saint-Germain | Argentina |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | France |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | Argentina |
| 2024 | Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
Analysis of Ballon d’Or Winners
Looking back at the Ballon d’Or history, several trends stand out.
- Lionel Messi leads with a record number of wins, underlining his dominance in world football.
- Cristiano Ronaldo follows closely, showcasing his long-standing rivalry with Messi at the top level.
- Earlier decades saw legends like Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten winning multiple times.
The award has evolved over time, expanding from being Europe-focused to recognizing global talent, making it truly the highest honor in football.
The Ballon d’Or is more than just a trophy; it is a symbol of greatness and consistency. From the first winner Stanley Matthews in 1956 to Rodri in 2024, the award highlights the legends who shaped football history.
As new stars rise in the coming years, this list will continue to grow, celebrating the best of the best in the world’s most beloved sport.
FAQs
Q1. Who was the first Ballon d’Or winner?
A. The first Ballon d’Or winner was Stanley Matthews of Blackpool in 1956.
Q2. Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?
A. Lionel Messi holds the record with the most Ballon d’Or titles.
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Q3. Was the Ballon d’Or ever canceled?
A. Yes, in 2020 the award was not presented due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q4. Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024?
A. Rodri of Manchester City and Spain won the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Q5. Which clubs have produced the most winners?
A. Clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and AC Milan have had the most Ballon d’Or winners over the years.
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