Ballon d’Or Winners List | All Winners 1956–2024
The Ballon d’Or award is like the MVP award in football, awarded every year by France Football based on the performance of the player and the conduct on the pitch. The award is usually given at the start of every football cycle (September to October). It is considered to be the award of the highest level in football. Top-ranked countries around the world vote for the best player through their selected representative.
However, several other trophies have come into the limelight after rewarding the player with “fan favourite award” rather than analyzing them based on performance and conduct. Still, the Ballon d’Or is considered the biggest individual achievement in football. Lionel Messi has clinched the award for record 8 times, followed by his on-field rival Cristiano Ronaldo with 5 trophies, and then we have some iconic names like Marco Van Basten, Johan Cruyff & Michel Platini, each winning the prestigious award 3 times in their career.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, locked in for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, is generating insane buzz as one of the most thrilling in years. With no clear favorite, neutral fans and experts alike are stumped on who’ll take the crown, making this post-Messi/Ronaldo era showdown a nail-biter packed with fresh talent and unpredictable drama. Let’s have a look at the list of Ballon d’Or winners without any further delay.
List of All Ballon d’Or Winners (1956–2024)
These players must have produced excellent performances at the highest level of football while also helping their respective teams win trophies and titles. The winner of the award is decided by voting by 100 journalists from FIFA’s 100 top-ranked member nations. Let’s take a look at the Ballon d’Or winners list.
| Year | Player | Club | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) | Argentina |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | France |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | PSG | Argentina |
| 2020 | Not awarded | – | – |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2018 | Luka Modrić | Real Madrid | Croatia |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | Portugal |
| 2007 | Kaká | AC Milan | Brazil |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro | Real Madrid | Italy |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho | Barcelona | Brazil |
| 2004 | Andriy Shevchenko | AC Milan | Ukraine |
| 2003 | Pavel Nedvěd | Juventus | Czechia |
| 2002 | Ronaldo Nazário | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| 2001 | Michael Owen | Liverpool | England |
| 2000 | Luís Figo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Barcelona | Brazil |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane | Juventus | France |
| 1997 | Ronaldo Nazário | Inter Milan | Brazil |
| 1996 | Matthias Sammer | Borussia Dortmund | Germany |
| 1995 | George Weah | AC Milan | Liberia |
| 1994 | Hristo Stoichkov | Barcelona | Bulgaria |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio | Juventus | Italy |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1991 | Jean-Pierre Papin | Marseille | France |
| 1990 | Lothar Matthäus | Inter Milan | Germany |
| 1989 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1988 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1987 | Ruud Gullit | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1986 | Igor Belanov | Dynamo Kyiv | Soviet Union |
| 1985 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1984 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1983 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Juventus | Italy |
| 1981 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1980 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1979 | Kevin Keegan | Hamburg | England |
| 1978 | Kevin Keegan | Hamburg | England |
| 1977 | Allan Simonsen | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Denmark |
| 1976 | Franz Beckenbauer | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1975 | Oleg Blokhin | Dynamo Kyiv | Soviet Union |
| 1974 | Johan Cruyff | Barcelona | Netherlands |
| 1973 | Johan Cruyff | Barcelona | Netherlands |
| 1972 | Franz Beckenbauer | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1971 | Johan Cruyff | Ajax | Netherlands |
| 1970 | Gerd Müller | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1969 | Gianni Rivera | AC Milan | Italy |
| 1968 | George Best | Manchester United | Northern Ireland |
| 1967 | Flórián Albert | Ferencváros TC | Hungary |
| 1966 | Bobby Charlton | Manchester United | England |
| 1965 | Eusébio | Benfica | Portugal |
| 1964 | Denis Law | Manchester United | Scotland |
| 1963 | Lev Yashin | Dynamo Moscow | Soviet Union |
| 1962 | Josef Masopust | Dukla Prague | Czechoslovakia |
| 1961 | Omar Sívori | Juventus | Italy |
| 1960 | Luis Suárez | Barcelona | Spain |
| 1959 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Real Madrid | Argentina / Spain |
| 1958 | Raymond Kopa | Real Madrid | France |
| 1957 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Real Madrid | Argentina / Spain |
| 1956 | Stanley Matthews | Blackpool | England |
Also Read: Ballon d’Or Rankings 2025
Top Ballon d’Or Winners
Here is a detailed list of top Ballon d’Or winners, showing how many times each footballer has received the prestigious award by France Football.
These players made history with their consistent excellence on the world stage, not just by their performance but also by their conduct on the pitch.
5. Marco van Basten – 3
The third and last player to have won the Ballon d’Or three times is another Dutch legend, Marco van Basten. The former Ajax and AC Milan striker won it two years in a row in 1988 and 1989 before adding a third in 1992. In 1988, Van Basten won the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan and the UEFA Euros with the Netherlands. The following year, he won the European Cup, European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with Milan. In 1992, he again won the Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana. 3 Ballon d’Ors make him one of the best players among the Ballon d’Or winners.
| Year | Club/Team | Trophies Won |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | AC Milan / Netherlands | Serie A, UEFA Euro 1988 (Netherlands) |
| 1989 | AC Milan | European Cup (Champions League), UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup |
| 1992 | AC Milan | Serie A, Italian Super Cup |
4. Johan Cruyff – 3
One of the most iconic and legendary players of all time, Johan Cruyff also won the Ballon d’Or three times. He won it in 1971, 1973, and 1974 after his brilliant performances for Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands. He helped Ajax win the KNVB Cup and the European Cup in 1971. He won the European Cup again in 1973 along with the Eredivisie title. In 1974, he won the La Liga with Barcelona and helped the Netherlands reach the FIFA World Cup final.
| Year | Club(s) | Trophies Won |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Ajax | Eredivisie, European Cup (Champions League), Dutch Super Cup |
| 1973 | Ajax / Barcelona | Eredivisie (Ajax), La Liga (Barcelona) |
| 1974 | Barcelona | None |
3. Michel Platini – 3
One of the greatest French players of all time, Michel Platini won the coveted award three years in a row – 1983, 1984, and 1985. He won after his contributions to Juventus and France as they won numerous trophies during his time at the club. He won the Serie A, European Cup Winners’ Cup, and European Super Cup in 1984 and the European Cup in 1985, among other honors, with the Italian side. Platini also helped France win the Euros in 1984 and the Finalissima in 1985.
| Year | Club/Team | Trophies Won |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Juventus | Coppa Italia, European Cup Winners’ Cup |
| 1984 | Juventus / France | Serie A, European Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Euro 1984 (France) |
| 1985 | Juventus | Serie A, European Cup (Champions League), Intercontinental Cup |
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5
Widely regarded as one of the two greatest players of all time, alongside Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times. He started off in 2008 after an incredible season with Manchester United, as he helped them win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Ronaldo then moved to Real Madrid, where he won the award two years in a row, twice in 2013 & 2014, and 2016 & 2017. He’s won almost every trophy available for club and country and currently plies his trade with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
| Year | Club/Team | Trophies Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Manchester United | Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup |
| 2013 | Real Madrid | Spanish Super Cup |
| 2014 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup |
| 2016 | Real Madrid / Portugal | UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 (Portugal) |
| 2017 | Real Madrid | La Liga, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup |
1. Lionel Messi – 8
Many regard Lionel Messi as the greatest football player of all time, and his record eight Ballons d’Or provide a great argument for it. The legendary Argentine has won almost everything the game has to offer with both club and country. He won the award for the first time in 2009 before winning it the next three years in a row as well between 2010 and 2012. He then won it in 2015, 2019, and 2021 as well. His last win came in 2023 after he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph. It could be his last time winning the award as the 37-year-old has now left Europe and plays for Inter Miami. Messi, with his 8 Ballon d’Ors, stands tall among the Ballon d’Or winners.
| Year | Club/Team | Trophies Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | La Liga, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup |
| 2010 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | La Liga, Spanish Super Cup |
| 2011 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | La Liga, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup |
| 2012 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | Copa del Rey |
| 2015 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | La Liga, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup |
| 2019 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | La Liga |
| 2021 | FC Barcelona / Argentina | Copa del Rey, Copa América (Argentina) |
| 2023 | PSG / Inter Miami / Argentina | Ligue 1, Leagues Cup, FIFA World Cup 2022 (Argentina) |
Ballon d’Or History
The Ballon d’Or, is football’s most prestigious individual trophy. It was started in the year 1956 by France Football Magazine to recognize the best male football player of the year. Journalists Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran introduced the concept in front of football fans. The trophy is decided by votes, which are given by the journalists of the top 100-ranked nations in the FIFA rankings. Initially, the trophy was focused on Europe only, but it went global in the year 1995.
The club has seen many winners till the year 2008, and after that, it was just between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. During this period, only Luka Modric was able to win it apart from the GOAT duo in 2018 for his World Cup performance. some editions sparked cries of “robbery” when fan-favorite performances didn’t secure the trophy, like Robert Lewandowski in 2021 (many argued he deserved it over Messi), and Andrés Iniesta in 2010. The 2025 ceremony is going to be one of the most interesting in the decade, where no winner is guaranteed, and there are 3-5 contenders, unlike the usual 2-3.
How Does Ballon d’Or Voting Work
And there comes the part of the voting. If you’ve gone through the list of all Ballon d’Or winners, you must be feeling how the top player is chosen. So the first and most important part is where 30 players are selected by the Juries, associated with France Football. This phase has been slammed a bit; every year, some significant names get missed in the list, which raises eyebrows. The second step is the voting part. Each journalist ranks their top five players from a shortlist of 30 nominees, based on the previous season’s performance (e.g., 2024–25 for the 2025 award). Points are awarded as follows: 6 for first place, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth. The player with the highest total goes home with the golden ball. Voters weigh individual performance, team success and conduct on the pitch.
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Nomination | France Football creates a shortlist of top-performing players. |
| 2. Jury Selection | One journalist from each of the top FIFA-ranked countries is chosen to vote. |
| 3. Evaluation Criteria | Jurors assess players based on performance, team success, talent, and fair play. |
| 4. Voting & Points | Each juror picks 5 players; points awarded: 6 (1st), 4 (2nd), 3, 2, and 1. |
| 5. Winner Announcement | Player with the highest total points is declared the winner at a gala event. |
FAQs
Q. Who won the most Ballon d’Or?
A. Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or trophy 8 times.
Q. Who first won the Ballon d’Or between Messi and Ronaldo?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to win the Ballon d’Or, achieving the honor in 2008 before Lionel Messi.
Q. How many Ballons d’Or has Ronaldo won?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo has won 5 Ballons d’Or.
Also Read: No Messi, Ronaldo! Ballon d’Or to have first-time winner