Ballon d’Or throughout the years: Every award winner from 1956 to 2023

Football
By Bianca Richardson

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As the football world eagerly anticipates the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Paris, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the illustrious history of this prestigious accolade. Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has served as the ultimate recognition of individual excellence in the sport, honoring the most outstanding performers on the global stage. Ahead of this year’s event, let’s take a comprehensive look back at all the men’s award winners from 1956 to 2022.

The Ballon d’Or, presented annually by the esteemed French magazine France Football, holds a special place in the hearts of football enthusiasts worldwide. From its inaugural presentation to England’s Stanley Matthews in 1956, the award has evolved into the pinnacle of individual achievement in football, celebrating the unparalleled skill, dedication, and impact of its recipients.

Over the decades, the Ballon d’Or has witnessed the rise of footballing legends who have left an indelible mark on the sport. From the incomparable Alfredo Di Stefano and Johan Cruyff to the iconic Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the list of winners reads like a who’s who of footballing greatness. These titans of the game have dazzled audiences with their extraordinary talent, rewriting record books and etching their names in football folklore.

Here’s a look at the full list of men’s Ballon d’Or winners since 1956:

Year / Player / (Club)
  1. 1956: Stanley Matthews (Blackpool)
  2. 1957: Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid)
  3. 1958: Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid)
  4. 1959: Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid)
  5. 1960: Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
  6. 1961: Omar Sivori (Juventus)
  7. 1962: Josef Masopust (Dukla Prague)
  8. 1963: Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moscow)
  9. 1964: Denis Law (Manchester United)
  10. 1965: Eusebio (Benfica)
  11. 1966: Bobby Charlton (Manchester United)
  12. 1967: Florian Albert (Ferencvaros)
  13. 1968: George Best (Manchester United)
  14. 1969: Gianni Rivera (AC Milan)
  15. 1970: Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich)
  16. 1971: Johan Cruyff (Ajax)
  17. 1972: Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich)
  18. 1973: Johan Cruyff (Barcelona)
  19. 1974: Johan Cruyff (Barcelona)
  20. 1975: Oleg Blokhin (Dynamo Kyiv)
  21. 1976: Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich)
  22. 1977: Allan Simonsen (Borussia Monchengladbach)
  23. 1978: Kevin Keegan (Hamburg)
  24. 1979: Kevin Keegan (Hamburg)
  25. 1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich)
  26. 1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich)
  27. 1982: Paolo Rossi (Juventus)
  28. 1983: Michel Platini (Juventus)
  29. 1984: Michel Platini (Juventus)
  30. 1985: Michel Platini (Juventus)
  31. 1986: Igor Belanov (Dynamo Kyiv)
  32. 1987: Ruud Gullit (AC Milan)
  33. 1988: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)
  34. 1989: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)
  35. 1990: Lothar Matthaus (Internazionale)
  36. 1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille)
  37. 1992: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)
  38. 1993: Roberto Baggio (Juventus)
  39. 1994: Hristo Stoichkov (Barcelona)
  40. 1995: George Weah (AC Milan)
  41. 1996: Matthias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund)
  42. 1997: Ronaldo (Internazionale)
  43. 1998: Zinedine Zidane (Juventus)
  44. 1999: Rivaldo (Barcelona)
  45. 2000: Luis Figo (Real Madrid)
  46. 2001: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
  47. 2002: Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  48. 2003: Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
  49. 2004: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)
  50. 2005: Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
  51. 2006: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
  52. 2007: Kaka (Milan)
  53. 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
  54. 2009: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
  55. 2010: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
  56. 2011: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
  57. 2012: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
  58. 2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  59. 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  60. 2015: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
  61. 2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  62. 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  63. 2018: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
  64. 2019: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
  65. 2020: Cancelled
  66. 2021: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
  67. 2022: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
  68. 2023: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

The Ballon d’Or represents more than just a trophy – it is a symbol of footballing excellence, a testament to the dedication and passion of the game’s greatest ambassadors. As we celebrate the illustrious history of this iconic award, let us also pay tribute to the countless individuals who have graced the footballing stage with their remarkable talent and unwavering commitment to the beautiful game. Here’s to another year of footballing brilliance and the timeless legacy of the Ballon d’Or.

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