The history of the Ballon d’Or winners is also a history of football’s greatest generations. Stanley Matthews won the first edition in 1956. Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten later became three-time winners, before Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo established an extraordinary period of dominance.
Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or awards, while Cristiano Ronaldo has five. Harry Kane joined the winners list in 2026, becoming the first Englishman to receive the men’s award since Michael Owen in 2001. www.uefa.com
Yet the award’s story extends beyond its most decorated players. It includes a goalkeeper who remains unmatched, an African pioneer, changing eligibility rules and one year when no trophy was awarded.
Here is the complete Ballon d’Or winners list, followed by the records, women’s champions and historical details that explain its significance.
Latest Ballon d’Or Winners
Harry Kane won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium on 26 October. The Bayern Munich forward finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.
UEFA reported that Kane scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025/26 campaign. His achievements included helping Bayern secure a domestic treble and finishing as the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for a third consecutive season.
Alexia Putellas won the women’s award, securing her third victory after previous wins in 2021 and 2022. www.uefa.com
| Award | 2026 Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Ballon d’Or | Harry Kane | England |
| Women’s Ballon d’Or | Alexia Putellas | Spain |
Complete Men’s Ballon d’Or Winners List
The following tables include every men’s winner from the award’s introduction in 1956 through 2026.
The club column identifies the team associated with the player when the award was presented. It does not necessarily include every club represented during the assessment period.
Winners from 2000 to 2026
| Year | Player | Country | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Harry Kane | England | Bayern Munich |
| 2025 | Ousmane Dembélé | France | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2024 | Rodri | Spain | Manchester City |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Inter Miami |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | France | Real Madrid |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2020 | Not awarded | — | — |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2018 | Luka Modrić | Croatia | Real Madrid |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Manchester United |
| 2007 | Kaká | Brazil | AC Milan |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro | Italy | Real Madrid |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 2004 | Andriy Shevchenko | Ukraine | AC Milan |
| 2003 | Pavel Nedvěd | Czechia | Juventus |
| 2002 | Ronaldo Nazário | Brazil | Real Madrid |
| 2001 | Michael Owen | England | Liverpool |
| 2000 | Luís Figo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
Winners from 1980 to 1999
| Year | Player | Country | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane | France | Juventus |
| 1997 | Ronaldo Nazário | Brazil | Inter Milan |
| 1996 | Matthias Sammer | Germany | Borussia Dortmund |
| 1995 | George Weah | Liberia | AC Milan |
| 1994 | Hristo Stoichkov | Bulgaria | Barcelona |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio | Italy | Juventus |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan |
| 1991 | Jean-Pierre Papin | France | Marseille |
| 1990 | Lothar Matthäus | Germany | Inter Milan |
| 1989 | Marco van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan |
| 1988 | Marco van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan |
| 1987 | Ruud Gullit | Netherlands | AC Milan |
| 1986 | Igor Belanov | Soviet Union | Dynamo Kyiv |
| 1985 | Michel Platini | France | Juventus |
| 1984 | Michel Platini | France | Juventus |
| 1983 | Michel Platini | France | Juventus |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Italy | Juventus |
| 1981 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1980 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
Winners from 1956 to 1979
| Year | Player | Country | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Kevin Keegan | England | Hamburg |
| 1978 | Kevin Keegan | England | Hamburg |
| 1977 | Allan Simonsen | Denmark | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| 1976 | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1975 | Oleg Blokhin | Soviet Union | Dynamo Kyiv |
| 1974 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| 1973 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| 1972 | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1971 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Ajax |
| 1970 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1969 | Gianni Rivera | Italy | AC Milan |
| 1968 | George Best | Northern Ireland | Manchester United |
| 1967 | Flórián Albert | Hungary | Ferencváros |
| 1966 | Bobby Charlton | England | Manchester United |
| 1965 | Eusébio | Portugal | Benfica |
| 1964 | Denis Law | Scotland | Manchester United |
| 1963 | Lev Yashin | Soviet Union | Dynamo Moscow |
| 1962 | Josef Masopust | Czechoslovakia | Dukla Prague |
| 1961 | Omar Sívori | Italy | Juventus |
| 1960 | Luis Suárez | Spain | Barcelona |
| 1959 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Spain | Real Madrid |
| 1958 | Raymond Kopa | France | Real Madrid |
| 1957 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Spain | Real Madrid |
| 1956 | Stanley Matthews | England | Blackpool |
Historical country names help preserve the context of earlier editions. Argentina-born Alfredo Di Stéfano and Omar Sívori are listed under Spain and Italy respectively, following historical award records.
Players with the Most Ballon d’Or Wins
Winning the Ballon d’Or once places a player among a select group. Winning it repeatedly demonstrates an ability to remain influential across several seasons and changing competition.
Ten players have won the men’s award more than once through 2026.
| Player | Total Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Johan Cruyff | 3 | 1971, 1973, 1974 |
| Michel Platini | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
| Marco van Basten | 3 | 1988, 1989, 1992 |
| Alfredo Di Stéfano | 2 | 1957, 1959 |
| Franz Beckenbauer | 2 | 1972, 1976 |
| Kevin Keegan | 2 | 1978, 1979 |
| Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
| Ronaldo Nazário | 2 | 1997, 2002 |
Messi’s Record of Eight Awards
Messi’s eight victories include an unmatched run of four consecutive men’s awards between 2009 and 2012.
His later wins in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023 extended his lead at the top. They also spread his winning record across different stages of his career, rather than one uninterrupted peak.
Six of his awards came while he was at Barcelona. The final two entries list Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Five Victories
Cristiano Ronaldo first won in 2008 with Manchester United. He added four more awards at Real Madrid, winning in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
His five victories should not be confused with the two won by Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazário in 1997 and 2002.
Together, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo collected every men’s Ballon d’Or from 2008 through 2017. Modrić’s 2018 victory brought that ten-edition sequence to an end.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Winners
The women’s Ballon d’Or began in 2018, giving the women’s game its own annual award within the Ballon d’Or programme.
Ada Hegerberg won the first edition, with Megan Rapinoe following in 2019. After the cancelled 2020 awards, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí became the dominant names.
| Year | Winner | Country | Club or Clubs Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Alexia Putellas | Spain | Barcelona / London City Lionesses |
| 2025 | Aitana Bonmatí | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2024 | Aitana Bonmatí | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2023 | Aitana Bonmatí | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2022 | Alexia Putellas | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2021 | Alexia Putellas | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2020 | Not awarded | — | — |
| 2019 | Megan Rapinoe | United States | Reign FC |
| 2018 | Ada Hegerberg | Norway | Lyon |
Putellas and Bonmatí share the women’s record with three wins each. Bonmatí’s victories came in three consecutive editions, while Putellas returned to first place in 2026 after winning in 2021 and 2022. www.uefa.com
Why George Weah’s Victory Still Matters
George Weah’s 1995 Ballon d’Or remains one of the award’s most significant milestones.
The Liberian forward became the first winner representing an African national team. Through 2026, he remains the only men’s winner in that category.
His success coincided with a major eligibility change. Before 1995, the award was restricted to players representing European national teams. The revised rules allowed players of any nationality to compete, provided they played for a European club. www.rsssf.org
That background is essential when comparing generations. Earlier editions did not offer every outstanding player in world football the same opportunity to win.
For African supporters, Weah’s achievement also needs to be distinguished from the CAF African Player of the Year award. The two honours have separate organisers and histories.
A player can be an African football legend without appearing among the Ballon d’Or winners. Equally, a player’s African ancestry is not the same as representing an African national team in the award records.
Why Nobody Won the Ballon d’Or in 2020
The blank entry beside 2020 is deliberate.
France Football cancelled that year’s award because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted competitions and created unequal conditions across football. There was no official winner in either the men’s or women’s category. www.lequipe.fr
Robert Lewandowski frequently features in discussions about the cancelled edition. However, an argument about who deserved to win does not change the official record.
For reference purposes, 2020 should always appear as “not awarded”.
How the Ballon d’Or Winner Is Selected
The Ballon d’Or is decided by a journalists’ ballot.
Under the 2026 regulations, the men’s jury draws one journalist from each of the top 100 countries in the relevant FIFA rankings. The women’s jury uses the top 50.
Jurors assess individual impact first, team achievements second and sporting conduct third. Each voter ranks ten players from a shortlist of 30.
| Ballot Position | Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 10 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 7 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 4 |
| 8 | 3 |
| 9 | 2 |
| 10 | 1 |
The highest total determines the winner. If players finish level, first-place selections separate them, followed by second-place selections and subsequent positions if necessary.
These rules apply to the 2026 edition; voting arrangements have changed over the award’s history. ballondor.com
Ballon d’Or and FIFA Awards: Understanding the Difference
The Ballon d’Or is associated with France Football. FIFA has its own individual football awards.
For six editions, the organisations combined their leading player prizes under the FIFA Ballon d’Or name.
| Years | Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Before 2010 | Separate France Football and FIFA awards |
| 2010–2015 | Combined FIFA Ballon d’Or |
| From 2016 | Separate awards again |
The 2010–2015 winners remain part of the Ballon d’Or’s official history. Their victories count towards the totals shown in this article. www.rsssf.org
This distinction prevents a common statistical mistake: adding separate FIFA awards to a player’s Ballon d’Or total without identifying them as different honours.
What the Winners List Reveals About Football
The complete list offers more than a sequence of famous names. It shows how different positions, clubs and countries have contributed to the sport.
Goalkeepers Have Rarely Received the Main Award
Lev Yashin won in 1963 and remains the only goalkeeper among the men’s winners through 2026.
The separate goalkeeper trophy recognises excellence in that position, but winning it does not constitute a main Ballon d’Or victory. www.uefa.com
Defenders and Midfielders Can Win
Although forwards feature prominently, scoring the most goals is not an automatic route to the trophy.
Franz Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer and Fabio Cannavaro are among its defensive winners. Midfielders such as Luka Modrić and Rodri have also finished first.
Their presence reflects the award’s assessment of broader influence rather than goals alone.
Club Names Need Context
A club beside a winner’s name is a reference point, not a complete account of the assessment period.
For example, Messi’s 2021 entry lists Paris Saint-Germain and his 2023 entry lists Inter Miami. Readers should not assume that every performance considered by voters took place at those clubs.
The same principle applies to other players who transferred during an award year.
England Has Six Awards from Five Players
Kane’s 2026 victory added another name to England’s list.
Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, Michael Owen and Harry Kane are the country’s five different winners. Keegan’s two victories bring their combined total to six.
Scotland’s Denis Law and Northern Ireland’s George Best are recorded separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?
Lionel Messi holds the men’s record with eight. Cristiano Ronaldo follows with five.
Who won the first Ballon d’Or?
Stanley Matthews won the inaugural award in 1956 while playing for Blackpool.
Who won the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Harry Kane won the men’s award, and Alexia Putellas won the women’s award.
Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s Ballon d’Or, while Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s award. www.uefa.com
Has a goalkeeper ever won the Ballon d’Or?
Yes. Lev Yashin won in 1963. He remains the only goalkeeper to win the main men’s award through 2026.
Has an African player won the Ballon d’Or?
Yes. Liberia’s George Weah won in 1995.
Has a Kenyan player won the Ballon d’Or?
No Kenyan player appears in the men’s or women’s winners lists through 2026.
How many consecutive Ballon d’Or awards did Messi win?
Messi won four consecutive editions: 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Why does the winners list skip 2020?
The award was cancelled following disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. No official winner was selected.
Who holds the women’s Ballon d’Or record?
Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí share the record with three victories each through 2026.
