Ballon d’Or Winners List – 1956 to 2024

by karan — May 25, 2025 in Football

Football’s most coveted individual prize has been awarded annually since 1956, creating an incredible ballon d’or winners list that reads like a who’s who of football legends.

Every year, one player joins this exclusive club of sporting immortals, earning recognition as the world’s finest footballer.

The journey from Stanley Matthews breaking new ground as the first recipient to Rodri’s groundbreaking victory in 2024 tells the fascinating story of how football has evolved across seven decades.

This prestigious award has witnessed the rise of legendary figures like Pelé (who would have won multiple times if eligible), Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo – players who didn’t just excel individually but transformed the very nature of football itself.

The Golden Ball represents more than personal achievement; it symbolizes excellence, dedication, and the pursuit of sporting perfection.

Understanding this award means appreciating the highest standards in professional football, from technical brilliance and tactical intelligence to leadership qualities and character.

Ballon d’Or Winners List

Whether you’re a devoted football enthusiast or someone discovering the sport’s rich history, learning about this prestigious honor provides insight into what separates good players from true legends and why certain moments in football become eternal.

List of Men’s Ballon d’Or Award Winners

The complete championship roll from 1956 to 2024:

Year	Player	Nationality	Club
2024	Rodri	Spain	Manchester City
2023	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Inter Miami
2022	Karim Benzema	France	Real Madrid
2021	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Paris Saint-Germain
2020	Not awarded	COVID-19	N/A
2019	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2018	Luka Modric	Croatia	Real Madrid
2017	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2016	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2015	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2014	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2013	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2012	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2011	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2010	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2009	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2008	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Manchester United
2007	Kaká	Brazil	Milan
2006	Fabio Cannavaro	Italy	Real Madrid
2005	Ronaldinho	Brazil	Barcelona
2004	Andriy Shevchenko	Ukraine	Milan
2003	Pavel Nedvěd	Czech Republic	Juventus
2002	Ronaldo	Brazil	Real Madrid
2001	Michael Owen	England	Liverpool
2000	Luís Figo	Portugal	Real Madrid
1999	Rivaldo	Brazil	Barcelona
1998	Zinedine Zidane	France	Juventus
1997	Ronaldo	Brazil	Internazionale
1996	Matthias Sammer	Germany	Borussia Dortmund
1995	George Weah	Liberia	Milan
1994	Hristo Stoichkov	Bulgaria	Barcelona
1993	Roberto Baggio	Italy	Juventus
1992	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Milan
1991	Jean-Pierre Papin	France	Marseille
1990	Lothar Matthäus	Germany	Internazionale
1989	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Milan
1988	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Milan
1987	Ruud Gullit	Netherlands	Milan
1986	Igor Belanov	Soviet Union	Dynamo Kyiv
1985	Michel Platini	France	Juventus
1984	Michel Platini	France	Juventus
1983	Michel Platini	France	Juventus
1982	Paolo Rossi	Italy	Juventus
1981	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1980	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1979	Kevin Keegan	England	Hamburg
1978	Kevin Keegan	England	Hamburg
1977	Allan Simonsen	Denmark	Borussia Mönchengladbach
1976	Franz Beckenbauer	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1975	Oleg Blokhin	Soviet Union	Dynamo Kyiv
1974	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Barcelona
1973	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Barcelona
1972	Franz Beckenbauer	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1971	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Ajax
1970	Gerd Müller	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1969	Gianni Rivera	Italy	Milan
1968	George Best	Northern Ireland	Manchester United
1967	Flórián Albert	Hungary	Ferencvárosi TC
1966	Bobby Charlton	England	Manchester United
1965	Eusébio	Portugal	Benfica
1964	Denis Law	Scotland	Manchester United
1963	Lev Yashin	Soviet Union	Dynamo Moscow
1962	Josef Masopust	Czechoslovakia	Dukla Prague
1961	Omar Sívori	Italy	Juventus
1960	Luis Suárez	Spain	Barcelona
1959	Alfredo Di Stéfano	Argentina/Spain	Real Madrid
1958	Raymond Kopa	France	Real Madrid
1957	Alfredo Di Stéfano	Argentina/Spain	Real Madrid
1956	Stanley Matthews	England	Blackpool

What is Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or stands as football’s supreme individual honor, representing the pinnacle of personal achievement in the world’s most popular sport.

Created by France Football magazine in 1956, this golden trophy has become the ultimate symbol of footballing excellence.

Understanding the Award

Core concepts about the Golden Ball:

Name origin: “Ballon d’Or” translates to “Golden Ball” in French
Annual tradition: Presented every year since 1956 (except 2020)
Global recognition: Most prestigious individual award in world football
Voting authority: Decided by an international panel of specialist journalists
Selection period: Based on full season performance (August to July)

Voting Mechanics

The selection process operates through a carefully structured system:

Voter Composition:

100 specialist journalists from FIFA’s top-ranked nations
One representative per country ensures a global perspective
Expert knowledge required – sports writers with proven credentials
Independent voting without external influence or pressure

Scoring System:

30-player shortlist created by editorial committee
Top 5 selections made by each journalist
Point allocation: 6 points (1st), 4 points (2nd), 3 points (3rd), 2 points (4th), 1 point (5th)
Highest total determines the winner
Tie-breaking: Most first-place votes decide in case of equal points

Evaluation Criteria

Three fundamental pillars guide voting decisions:

Individual Excellence:

Statistical performance, including goals, assists, and positional metrics
Technical mastery demonstrated through skill and creativity
Consistency levelsare maintained throughout the season
Impact moments in crucial matches and competitions

Collective Success:

Trophy achievements with both club and national teams
Leadership demonstration during important competitions
Team contribution beyond personal statistics
Decisive performances in the finals and knockout stages

Professional Conduct:

Sporting behavior on the field during matches
Fair play attitude toward opponents and officials
Off-field character and role model qualities
Respect demonstration for the game and its values

Historical Development

The award’s evolution reflects football’s global expansion:

Foundation Era (1956-1994):

European exclusivity – only players from European countries eare ligible
Limited scope with 16 UEFA member nations voting
Regional focus reflecting football’s European dominance
Pioneering winners like Matthews, Di Stéfano, and Cruyff

First Expansion (1995-2006):

Club-based eligibility – any player at European clubs could win
Geographic diversity with Weah (Africa) and Ronaldo (South America)
Increased competition as more nations produced elite talent
Growing global interest and media coverage

Modern Global Era (2007-present):

Universal eligibility for all professional players worldwide
Expanded voting to include coaches and captains (2007-2015)
FIFA partnership creating “FIFA Ballon d’Or” (2010-2015)
Return to origins with journalist-only voting (2016-present)
Women’s category addition in 2018

Who Can Win Ballon d’Or Award?

While theoretically any professional footballer can achieve this honor, specific patterns and characteristics define successful candidates across the award’s history.

Fundamental Requirements

Basic eligibility standards for consideration:

Professional status with a recognized football club
Active participation during the judged season
Minimum appearances typically around 15-20 matches
Clean disciplinary record without major suspensions
Committee nomination from the initial candidate pool

Championship Profile Analysis

Successful winners typically demonstrate:

Peak Performance Indicators:

Age range: Most winners are between 23-31 years old
Career stage: Usually 4-8 years of elite-level experience
Physical prime: Combining maturity with athletic peak
Mental strength: Handling pressure in crucial moments

Statistical Excellence:

Attacking players: High goal and assist numbers
Midfielders: Creative metrics and game control statistics
Defenders: Leadership stats and crucial defensive actions
Goalkeepers: Save percentages and clean sheet records

Positional Success Rates

Historical analysis reveals clear patterns:

Forwards and Wingers (Highest Success Rate):

Natural advantage through goal-scoring visibility
Media appeal with spectacular and memorable moments
Statistical clarity makes achievements easy to measure
Recent examples: Messi, Ronaldo, Benzema

Creative Midfielders (Strong Contenders):

Game control abilities are highly valued by experts
Assist production in complementing team success
Technical brilliance appreciated by knowledgeable voters
Notable winners: Modric, Kaká, Zidane

Defensive Midfielders (Rare but Possible):

Recent breakthrough with Rodri’s 2024 victory
Requires exceptional leadership and trophy success
Team performance is more crucial than individual stats
Historical examples: Matthäus (1990)

Center-Backs (Extremely Rare):

Tournament leadership usually necessary for recognition
Captaincy role essential for defensive players
Major trophy victories required for consideration
Only examples: Cannavaro (2006), Beckenbauer (1972, 1976)

Goalkeepers (Nearly Impossible):

Single winner in award history (Yashin, 1963)
Exceptional circumstances needed for recognition
Tournament heroics and record-breaking performances required
Structural disadvantage due to position’s nature

Competition Impact Factors

Tournament success significantly influences voting outcomes:

World Cup Influence:

Dominant factor in World Cup years
Tournament winners receive massive voting boosts
Individual awards like the Golden Boot enhance chances
Memorable performances create lasting voter impressions

Continental Championships:

European Championship success crucial for European players
Copa America victories benefit South American candidates
Player of Tournament honors carry significant weight
National team leadership demonstrates complete player qualities

Club Competition Success:

Champions League victories provide enormous advantages
Domestic league titles show sustained excellence
Cup competitions add to overall achievement portfolio
Record-breaking performances in major competitions

FAQs on Ballon d’Or Winners List:

Who holds the record for most Ballon d’Or victories?

Lionel Messi dominates with 8 total wins (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023), making him the most successful recipient in history. Cristiano Ronaldo follows with 5 victories (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).

Why was no award given in 2020?

The 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. France Football determined that disrupted seasons, postponed competitions, and altered schedules made fair evaluation impossible for that year.

Does a woman’s equivalent exist?

Yes, the Ballon d’Or Féminin has been awarded since 2018. Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona) won in 2023 and 2024, while Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) claimed the inaugural awards in 2021 and 2022.

Who achieved victory at the youngest age?

Ronaldo (Brazilian striker) won at 21 years and 96 days in 1997 while playing for Internazionale, making him the youngest recipient in award history.

Has any goalkeeper besides Yashin ever won?

Lev Yashin remains the sole goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or (1963), highlighting the extreme difficulty for keepers to receive recognition despite their crucial role.

Which nation has produced the most winners?

Argentina leads with 9 total victories, primarily through Messi’s dominance. Brazil follows with 8 different winners, while Portugal has 7 wins, mostly from Ronaldo’s success.

How does this differ from FIFA’s The Best award?

The Ballon d’Or uses exclusively journalist votes, while FIFA’s The Best incorporates national team coaches, captains, and public voting alongside media representatives.

What made Rodri’s 2024 victory significant?

Rodri’s triumph marked the first defensive midfielder to won since 1990, based on his exceptional performances for Manchester City (Premier League champions) and Spain (European Championship winners).

Can players win in consecutive years?

Absolutely. Lionel Messi achieved four consecutive victories (2009-2012), while Michel Platini won three straight (1983-1985), demonstrating sustained excellence.

When and where is the ceremony held?

The annual ceremony takes place in October/November in Paris, France, at prestigious venues like the Théâtre du Châtelet, featuring football’s biggest stars.

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Conclusion:

The Ballon d’Or represents football’s highest individual achievement, creating a prestigious ballon d’or winners list that chronicles nearly seven decades of sporting excellence.

From Stanley Matthews’ pioneering victory in 1956 to Rodri’s historic triumph in 2024, each recipient has demonstrated exceptional talent, unwavering dedication, and remarkable achievements that inspire millions worldwide.

This evolution from a European-only award to a truly global celebration reflects football’s transformation into the world’s universal language.

The diverse ballon d’or winners list featuring players from every continent demonstrates that excellence knows no boundaries and that greatness can emerge from anywhere on Earth.

Rodri’s groundbreaking 2024 victory as a defensive midfielder proves that the award recognizes complete football mastery, not just spectacular goals or flashy skills.

His success opens new possibilities for future players in traditionally undervalued positions, showing that every role on the pitch can achieve the highest recognition.

For aspiring footballers everywhere, this ballon d’or winners list provides the ultimate roadmap: combine natural talent with relentless work ethic, pursue team success alongside personal excellence, and maintain professional character throughout your career.

The next name added to this exclusive list could come from any nation, any background, and any position.

Understanding the Ballon d’Or means appreciating football’s greatest achievements and the extraordinary individuals who have elevated the sport to artistic levels.

Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or new to football, this award represents everything beautiful about the game – skill, dedication, teamwork, and the pursuit of perfection that makes football the world’s most beloved sport.

Ballon d’Or Winners List – 1956 to 2024