Stanley Matthews won the first Ballon d’Or in 1956, and Harry Kane won the 70th in 2026. Between those two names sit decades of football history. This Ballon d’Or winners list covers every champion in order, from the early European years to the modern global era. It also explains the records, the rule changes, and the one year when nobody got the trophy.
Reading a list of names only tells part of the story. Who won, when, and under which rules all matter. So this guide splits the winners into eras, adds short notes, and points out the patterns that stand out.
The Ballon d’Or Winners List at a Glance
France Football created the award in 1956, and the first prize went to Stanley Matthews. Since then, the trophy has gone to forwards, midfielders, defenders, and even one goalkeeper. Lev Yashin won in 1963, and he remains the only goalkeeper on the list. The 2026 edition in London was the 70th, and Harry Kane is the latest men’s champion.
One year is missing from the record. The 2020 award wasn’t handed out because of the pandemic. Still, the count of editions has kept moving, and 2026 carried the numbering forward. For a deeper look at how the current vote works, see our explainer on Ballon d’Or 2026.
Winners From 1956 to 1969
Early winners came from a smaller pool, because only European players could win. Real Madrid’s stars shaped the first few years, and Alfredo Di Stéfano took the prize twice. Later, British clubs entered the picture with Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, and George Best. Manchester United supplied three winners in just five years.
- 1956 – Stanley Matthews
- 1957 – Alfredo Di Stéfano
- 1958 – Raymond Kopa
- 1959 – Alfredo Di Stéfano
- 1960 – Luis Suárez
- 1961 – Omar Sívori
- 1962 – Josef Masopust
- 1963 – Lev Yashin
- 1964 – Denis Law
- 1965 – Eusébio
- 1966 – Bobby Charlton
- 1967 – Flórián Albert
- 1968 – George Best
- 1969 – Gianni Rivera
Winners From 1970 to 1989
The 1970s belonged to Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. Cruyff won three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Beckenbauer collected two, and Kevin Keegan matched that with back-to-back wins in 1978 and 1979. Then Michel Platini took three in a row from 1983 to 1985, which still stands as a rare streak.
- 1970 – Gerd Müller
- 1971 – Johan Cruyff
- 1972 – Franz Beckenbauer
- 1973 – Johan Cruyff
- 1974 – Johan Cruyff
- 1975 – Oleg Blokhin
- 1976 – Franz Beckenbauer
- 1977 – Allan Simonsen
- 1978 – Kevin Keegan
- 1979 – Kevin Keegan
- 1980 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
- 1981 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
- 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
Winners From 1990 to 2007
The 1990s brought a wider mix of nations. In 1995, the rules opened to any player at a European club, and George Weah became the first African winner. Ronaldo Nazário then won in 1997 and again in 2002, with a long gap between the two. Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, and Luís Figo kept the award moving between Spain, Italy, and France.
- 1990 – Lothar Matthäus
- 1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin
- 1992 – Marco van Basten
- 1993 – Roberto Baggio
- 1994 – Hristo Stoichkov
- 1995 – George Weah
- 1996 – Matthias Sammer
- 1997 – Ronaldo Nazário
- 1998 – Zinedine Zidane
- 1999 – Rivaldo
- 2000 – Luís Figo
- 2001 – Michael Owen
- 2002 – Ronaldo Nazário
- 2003 – Pavel Nedvěd
- 2004 – Andriy Shevchenko
- 2005 – Ronaldinho
- 2006 – Fabio Cannavaro
- 2007 – Kaká
The Messi and Ronaldo Era: 2008 to 2019
Few stretches in football history compare with this one. From 2008 to 2017, only two players won the award. Cristiano Ronaldo took it in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Lionel Messi won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. Luka Modrić finally broke the spell in 2018, and Messi returned in 2019.
- 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 Modrić
- 2019 – Lionel Messi
Winners From 2020 to 2026
The pandemic wiped out the 2020 edition, so the modern run starts in 2021. Messi won again that year, and Karim Benzema followed in 2022. Messi then claimed a record eighth award in 2023. Rodri won in 2024, Ousmane Dembélé in 2025, and Kane in 2026.
- 2020 – Not awarded
- 2021 – Lionel Messi
- 2022 – Karim Benzema
- 2023 – Lionel Messi
- 2024 – Rodri
- 2025 – Ousmane Dembélé
- 2026 – Harry Kane
On the women’s side, the award began in 2018. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the 2026 edition in London, according to reports from the ceremony. That result gave her another entry in a short but fast-growing list.
Players With the Most Wins
Messi sits alone at the top with eight awards. Cristiano Ronaldo is next with five. After that, Cruyff, Platini, and van Basten each won three times. Di Stéfano, Beckenbauer, Keegan, Rummenigge, and Ronaldo Nazário all won twice, so each has a place in the multiple-winner club.
Those numbers say a lot about dominance. A single great year can win the award, but a repeat win means a player held off the rest of the world twice. In that sense, Messi’s eight wins look even larger than the raw count suggests.
Club football shaped the list as well. Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus, and Bayern Munich supplied many of the early and middle champions. Kane’s win at Bayern fits that pattern. Even so, the award has also gone to players at clubs outside the biggest names, such as Dynamo Kyiv and Borussia Dortmund.
Streaks and Back-to-Back Champions
Repeat winners stand out on any Ballon d’Or winners list. Messi won four straight from 2009 to 2012, which is the longest run on record. Platini managed three in a row, while Cruyff, Rummenigge, Keegan, and van Basten each won in consecutive years. Ronaldo added his own pair in 2016 and 2017.
Streaks tell you when one player pulled clear of the field. They also show when the field caught up. After Messi’s four-year run, Ronaldo took the next two awards. Then Modrić ended the duopoly in 2018, and the door opened again.
Memorable Firsts and Oldest Winners
Several winners carry a small piece of history. Matthews was the first champion, and he was 41 when he collected the trophy. Yashin remains the only goalkeeper. Weah became the first African winner in 1995, and Kaká was the first winner under the fully global rules in 2007.
English fans can find a few more milestones. Kane’s 2026 win made him the sixth English award in total, counting Keegan’s two. In the same vein, both Keegan and Kane won while playing in Germany. That’s a quirk worth knowing, and it makes the English story a little different from what most people expect.
How the Rules Changed Over Time
For nearly 40 years, only European players could win. In 1995, the rules opened to non-Europeans who played for European clubs. Then in 2007, the award became fully global, so players anywhere could qualify. That change helped explain why South American and African winners appear more often in later decades.
Voting changed too. Journalists have long been the voters, and the panel size has grown with time. To compare the award with a rival honour, read our guide on Ballon d’Or vs The Best FIFA. For the British angle, see English players who won the Ballon d’Or.
Key Takeaways
- First winner: Stanley Matthews took the inaugural award in 1956.
- Most wins: Lionel Messi leads with eight, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo with five.
- Only goalkeeper: Lev Yashin won in 1963.
- Missing year: The 2020 award wasn’t given out.
- Latest champion: Harry Kane won the men’s award in 2026.
FAQs
Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?
Lionel Messi has won the most, with eight awards.
Who won the first Ballon d’Or?
Stanley Matthews won the first award in 1956.
Has a goalkeeper ever won the Ballon d’Or?
Yes, Lev Yashin won it in 1963, and he is still the only goalkeeper to do so.
Why wasn’t there a Ballon d’Or in 2020?
The 2020 edition was cancelled because of the pandemic.
Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2026?
Harry Kane won the men’s award at the London ceremony on 26 October 2026.
Conclusion
This Ballon d’Or winners list shows how the award has grown from a European prize into a global one. Matthews opened it in 1956, Messi and Ronaldo owned a whole era, and Kane added a new name in 2026. Each edition tells its own story about the game of its time. Return to this list whenever you need a quick, accurate reference.
