‘From Sir Stanley Matthews To Rodri’: List Of All Ballon d’Or Winners Through The Ages – News18

Last Updated:October 29, 2024, 03:49 IST

The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, recognizing the best male player each year. Discover the history of the award and the list of iconic players who have won this coveted honor.

Ballon d’Or. (X)

Spain midfielder Rodri became the latest addition to the elite list of Ballon d’Or winners with his triumph at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on Tuesday in a gala affair that oozed class.

The holding midfielder proved to be the heartbeat of the Spanish side that claimed the Euro 2024 title and also served as a vital cog in Manchester City’s Premier League triumph.

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Rodri edged Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham to the coveted piece of silverware that acknowledges the achievements of players in Europe.

The Ballon d’Or has served as one of the most prestigious awards in football ever since its inception all the way back in the year 1956.

The very first recipient of the glittery award was Sir Stanley Matthews, while Argentine genius Lionel Messi leads the record for most Ballon d’Or with his unprecedented eight titles, followed by long-term rival and Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who has managed to pick up the accolade five times.

ALSO READ| Ballon d’Or 2024 LIVE: Rodri Stands Tall At The Chatelet Theatre In Paris To Claim Award

Complete List of Ballon d’Or Winners:

1956- Stanley Matthews

1957- Alfredo Di Stefano

1958- Raymond Kopa

1959- Alfredo Di Stefano

1960- Luis Suarez

1961- Omar Sivori

1962- Josef Masopust

1963- Lev Yachine

1964- Dennis Law

1965- Eusebio

1966- Bobby Charlton

1967- Florian Albert

1968- Geroge Best

1969- Gianni Rivera

1970- Gerd Muller

1971- Johan Cruyff

1972- Franz Beckenbauer

1973- Johan Cruyff

1974- Johan Cruyff

1975- Oleg Blokhine

1976- Franz Beckenbauer

1977- Allan Simonsen

1978- Kevin Keegan

1979- Kevin Keegan

1980- Karl-Heinze Rummennigge

1981- Karl-Heinze Rummennigge

1982- Paolo Rossi

1983- Michel Platini

1984- Michel Platini

1985- Michel Platini

1986- Igor Belanov

1987- Ruud Gullit

1988- Marco Van Basten

1989- Marco Van Basten

1990- Lothar Matthaus

1991- Jean-Pierre Papin

1992- Marco Van Basten

1993- Roberto Baggio

1994- Hristov Stoitchkov

1995- George Weah

1996- Matthias Sammer

1997- Ronaldo

1998- Zinedine Zidane

1999- Rivaldo

2000- Luis Figo

2001- Michael Owen

2002- Ronaldo

2003- Pavl Nedved

2004- Andriy Shevshenko

2005- Ronaldinho

2006- Fabio Cannavaro

2007- Kaka

2008- Cristiano Ronaldo

2009- Lionel Messi

2010- Lionel Messi

2011- Lionel Messi

2012- Lionel Messi

2013- Cristiano Ronaldo

2014- Cristiano Ronaldo

2015- Lionel Messi

2016- Cristiano Ronaldo

2017- Cristiano Ronaldo

2018- Luka Modric

2019- Lionel Messi

2021- Lionel Messi

2022- Karim Benzema

2023- Lionel Messi

2024- Rodri