Ballon d’Or Winners List: From 1956 to Present Day

The Ballon d’Or has gone from being a European award to one that recognises greatness in the sport over a period of time.

It is the sport's most prestigious individual prize that many players dream of winning – or at least being nominated for – in their careers.

For the last 15 years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or winners list. Only two players have been able to usurp both players to the annual award in those 15 years.

Fans want to know which other players besides Messi and Ronaldo have won the prestigious award in its 68-year history.

This is truly one of the greatest photos of all time.

The new generation players acknowledging the greatest player in history of the sport winning The Ballon d’Or for eighth and final time. pic.twitter.com/cVHBVEiqpO

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) October 31, 2023

Brief history of the Ballon d'Or

Ballon d'Or literally translates to ‘Golden Ball' and it is given to the player who is considered the best performer at the completion of a European football season.

Individual awards were few and exclusive to federations and confederations before the conception of the Ballon d'Or in 1954/55. In 1956, the first edition was held, with England Three Lions legend Sir Stanley Matthews winning the award while playing for Blackpool.

At the time, the Ballon d'Or was a solely European award, given to European players who played for European clubs.

European players who played outside Europe were not considered, and neither were players from other continents who played in or outside Europe. By 1995, they opened it to every player who plays for a European club, regardless of nationality.

Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or acceptance speech was so humble 🐐 pic.twitter.com/suYgxCQxrh

— GOAL (@goal) October 31, 2023

President George Weah of Liberia was the first non-European winner of the award. His award is considered special because he won the award in the year that the awards were opened up to accommodate every player playing their trade at a European club.

It is extra special because he is the first and only African to climb that podium and take home the award.

🥇 1995 Ballon d'Or winner George Weah 🥇#UCL pic.twitter.com/vH40HGRhUo

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 5, 2023

The closest African has been Sadio Mané, who came second in the 2022 edition won by Karim Benzema. By 2007, it was expanded to become a worldwide prize.

Lionel Messi, who is the record winner of the award, is the first player playing outside Europe to win the award based on a technicality (the Argentina international football team captain played in Europe in the period considered for the 2023 award).

Messi being celebrated by his Inter Miami teammates less than 24 hours after winning the Ballon d'Or ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FP9UCNij3d

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 31, 2023

France Football also introduced another variation of the award called the Super Ballon d’Or, given to a player who has stood out and has finished on the Ballon d’Or winning podium for a number of years.

Super Ballon d’Or: Can you guess the only previous winner?

Ballon d'Or winners list from inception to date

It has been 68 years since the first award. There have been 45 winners of the award, with 10 players having won it multiple times.

Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won it at least five times. Messi is the player with the most awards, winning eight in 19 years as a senior professional.

Below is a list of all players who have won the award. This is also the first time in nearly two decades that Cristiano Ronaldo has not been nominated for the prestigious award.