Ballon d’Or Winners (1956 → 2025)
A comprehensive timeline of every player crowned with the Ballon d’Or as the “world’s best.”
Since 1956, France Football magazine has been selecting the most outstanding European-born (or naturalized) player performing in UEFA leagues.
This prestigious award expanded in 1995 to include footballers of any nationality playing for European clubs, and by 2007, it encompassed all professional players across the globe.
For six years (2010–2015), the Ballon d’Or was presented by France Football in conjunction with FIFA, until the magazine decided to return to independent organization, leading world football’s governing body to create its own award: The Best.
To date, across 69 editions, a total of 47 footballers have won the award, with 10 of them winning it at least twice.
In terms of nations, Argentina is the most successful with 11* titles, followed by Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France, whose players have secured 7 trophies for each country.
Spain’s FC Barcelona is the club that has contributed the most winners with 13, followed by their rivals, Real Madrid, with 12, and Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan, who have 8 each.
2020: For the first time in history, no award was given due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the suspension of several leagues and delayed tournaments, leading the organizers to skip that year’s crowning.
2022: The rules were changed so that achievements are judged by the European football season rather than the calendar year.
2024: France Football began a partnership with UEFA to co-organize the event.
Women’s Ballon d’Or
2018 Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Olympique Lyon)
2019 Megan Rapinoe (USA, Reign FC)
2020 Not awarded
2021 Alexia Putellas (Spain, FC Barcelona)
2022 Alexia Putellas (Spain, FC Barcelona)
2023 Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, FC Barcelona)
2024 Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, FC Barcelona)
2025 Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, FC Barcelona)