Sports

FULL LIST: Every Ballon d’Or Winner In History

Published

8 months ago

September 22, 2025

The Ballon d’Or, presented by France Football since 1956, is football’s longest-running individual honour.

Conceived by the magazine’s writers, the prize has changed format and eligibility over time — originally for Europe-only players, opened to all players active in Europe in 1995, and global in 2007.

In 2018, France Football expanded the honour with the Ballon d’Or Féminin, ensuring women’s football also takes centre stage.

Here’s the complete list of winners across both categories:

1956 — Stanley Matthews (Blackpool / England)
1957 — Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid / Spain-Argentina)
1958 — Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid / France)
1959 — Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid / Spain-Argentina)
1960 — Luis Suárez (Barcelona / Spain)
1961 — Omar Sívori (Juventus / Italy-Argentina)
1962 — Josef Masopust (Dukla Prague / Czechoslovakia)
1963 — Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moscow / USSR)
1964 — Denis Law (Manchester United / Scotland)
1965 — Eusébio (Benfica / Portugal)
1966 — Bobby Charlton (Manchester United / England)
1967 — Florian 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 / USSR)
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 / USSR)
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 / West 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)

Women’s Ballon d’Or (Ballon d’Or Féminin)

2018 — Ada Hegerberg (Lyon / Norway)
2019 — Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC / USA)
2020 — Not awarded (COVID-19)
2021 — Alexia Putellas (Barcelona / Spain)
2022 — Alexia Putellas (Barcelona / Spain)
2023 — Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
2024 —Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Sports

EPL: Chelsea Set To Sanction First Summer Transfer Under Alonso

Published

50 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Chelsea are set to sanction their first summer transfer under their new manager, Xabi Alonso.

According to the BBC Sport, the Blues are ‘open’ to selling Filip Jorgensen this summer after the goalkeeper indicated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge.

Jorgensen joined the Premier League west London club two seasons ago from Villarreal.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper was expected to compete for the number one position with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but he made just 11 Premier League appearances over the two seasons.

However, while the arrival of Alonso to Stamford Bridge could lead to a change in fortunes for Jorgensen, the report added that the Danish star has already expressed his desire to leave Chelsea this summer to get more regular playing game-time elsewhere.

Chelsea had blocked a potential exit for Jorgensen in the January transfer window, but the Premier League west London club are now open to a sale, with European and English clubs expected to explore a deal for the goalkeeper.

Sports

EPL: ‘Go For Alvarez’ – Paul Merson Hands Arsenal Two Signings To Make

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has handed his old club two signings to make in the summer.

Merson wants Arsenal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and a new midfielder.

“I would get a centre forward this summer, I would go for Julian Alvarez,” Merson said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.

“I am a big fan. If they could get him, I would. I still think they probably need another midfield player as well.”

Arsenal is expected to bolster its squad in the summer after winning the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City this season.

Sports

EPL: Wayne Rooney Picks Most Improved Player This Season

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has picked the Red Devils defender Luke Shaw as the most improved player in the Premier League following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney said, “I think, for me, Luke Shaw. I think Luke Shaw has been the most improved player this season.

“I know he is an experienced player now, but I think his level this season has been much better than it has been in recent seasons.

“People might look at Kobbie Mainoo but I don’t think he’s improved. It was just the fact he wasn’t playing under the former manager so it wasn’t good or bad.”

Shaw enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons at Man United and started all of Man United’s Premier League games.