Ballon d'Or

Ballon d'Or

Ballon d’Or is a French football award which is annually awarded to the best player of the year, who is chosen from all major leagues. Ballon d’Or was first awarded in 1956. In 2010, Ballon d’Or was temporarily merged with FIFA and it was awarded by both FIFA and French Football but in 2016 French football ended this collaboration with FIFA.

Before 2006, winner of Ballon d’Or was decided on the voting of famous Football Journalists only but in 2007, coaches and captains of the National teams were also given right to vote for Ballon d’Or. Before 2007, it was awarded to payers from European Leagues only but in 2007 Ballon d’Or was also expended from a European to a Global award.

If we look at the country with most Ballon d'Or winners then Germany is at the top of the list. Real Madrid and Barcelona have tie and both clubs have 11 Ballon d'Or winners. Below is the list of all the winners of Ballon d'Or from 1956 to 2019.

Players	Balon d'Or Wins & years
Lionel Messi	6 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019)
Cristiano Ronaldo	5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Michel Platini	3 (1983, 1984, 1985)
Johan Cruyff	3 (1971, 1973, 1974)
Marco Van Basten	3 (1988, 1989, 1992)
Franz Beckenbauer	2 (1972, 1976)
Ronaldo	2 (1997, 2002)
Alfredo Di Stéfano	2 (1957, 1959)
Kevin Keegan	2 (1978, 1979)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	2 (1980, 1981)
Luis Suárez (spain)	1 (1960)
Eusébio	1 (1965)
Bobby Charlton	1 (1966)
Raymond Kopa	1 (1958)
Gerd Müller	1 (1970)
Zinedine Zidane	1 (1998)
Gianni Rivera	1 (1969)
Ruud Gullit	1 (1987)
Lothar Matthäus	1 (1990)j
Roberto Baggio	1 (1993)
Hristo Stoichkov	1 (1994)
Andriy Shevchenko	1 (2004)
George Best	1 (1968)
Allan Simonsen	1 (1977)
Ronaldinho	1 (2005)
Luka Modric	1 (2018)