History Of Footballers Who Have Won Ballon d’Or Before 2025

Since 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been the most coveted individual award in football, a symbol of greatness for the game’s elite. Created by France Football magazine, the award recognizes the best footballer in the world for their outstanding performances over the season.

Initially, the award was only open to European players, but its scope expanded over the years to include players of any nationality playing in European clubs in 1995, and then all players worldwide in 2007.

After a brief merger with the FIFA World Player of the Year from 2010 to 2015, the Ballon d’Or returned to its classic format. In a historic move in 2024, UEFA became the host of the glamorous ceremony, while France Football continues to manage the voting process, maintaining the award’s tradition and prestige. The award was not presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over its long history, the Ballon d’Or has crowned the sport’s most legendary figures. Here is a look at all the men and women who have won the prestigious award since its inception.

Every player who has won the Ballon d’Or award (Women)
Here is every player who has won the Ballon d’Or in the women’s category:

Alexia Putellas – 2 (2021, 2022, FC Barcelona Femení, Spain)
Aitana Bonmatí – 2 (2023, 2024, FC Barcelona Femení, Spain)
Ada Hegerberg – 1 (2018, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, Norway)
Megan Rapinoe – 1 (2019, Reign FC, USA)

Full list of every Ballon d’Or winner (men)

A total of 41 players have received the honour of being called a Ballon d’Or winner for the men’s category, with at least 3 of the 41 players winning the award a minimum of three times.

Here are the players who have won the Ballon d’Or multiple times in football history:

Lionel Messi – 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Johan Cruyff – 3 (1971, 1973, 1974)
Michel Platini – 3 (1983, 1984, 1985)
Marco van Basten – 3 (1988, 1989, 1992)
Franz Beckenbauer – 2 (1972, 1976)
Kevin Keegan – 2 (1978, 1979)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2 (1980, 1981)
Alfredo Di Stéfano – 2 (1957, 1959)
Ronaldo Nazário – 2 (1997, 2002)
Here are all the players who have won the Ballon d’Or for the men’s category:

1950s

1956 – Stanley Matthews (Blackpool FC, England)
1957 – Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid, Argentina)
1958 – Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid, France)
1959 – Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid, Argentina)

1960s

1960 – Luis Suárez (FC 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 (Ferencvaros, Hungary)
1968 – George Best (Manchester United, Northern Ireland)
1969 – Gianni Rivera (AC Milan, Italy)

1970s

1970 – Gerd Müller (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1971 – Johan Cruyff (Ajax, Netherlands)
1972 – Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich, West Germany)
1973 – Johan Cruyff (FC Barcelona, Netherlands)
1974 – Johan Cruyff (FC 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 (Hamburger SV, England)
1979 – Kevin Keegan (Hamburger SV, England)

1980s

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)

1990s

1990 – Lothar Matthäus (Inter Milan, Germany)
1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin (Olympique de Marseille, France)
1992 – Marco van Basten (AC Milan, Netherlands)
1993 – Roberto Baggio (Juventus, Italy)
1994 – Hristo Stoichkov (FC Barcelona, Bulgaria)
1995 – George Weah (AC Milan, Liberia)
1996 – Matthias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
1997 – Ronaldo (Inter Milan, Brazil)
1998 – Zinedine Zidane (Juventus, France)
1999 – Rivaldo (FC Barcelona, Brazil)

2000s

2000 – Luís Figo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
2001 – Michael Owen (Liverpool FC, England)
2002 – Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Brazil)
2003 – Pavel Nedvěd (Juventus, Czech Republic)
2004 – Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan, Ukraine)
2005 – Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona, Brazil)
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy)
2007 – Kaká (AC Milan, Brazil)
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal)
2009 – Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Argentina)

2010s

2010 – Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Argentina)
2011 – Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Argentina)
2012 – Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Argentina)
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
2015 – Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Argentina)
2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
2018 – Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, Croatia)
2019 – Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Argentina)

2020s

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)

Related posts:

Davido Should Release His New Album Under Five Star Music – Odumodublvck 17th Headies Awards: Mohbad Bags 3 Awards, Also Davido, Flavour, Rema, Tems, Others Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa to Acquire African Music Catalogues Jude Engees: I Will Reunite My Brothers (P-Square) On Their Next Birthday