Ballon d'Or Winners: The Complete History of Soccer's Greatest Individual Award

Every Ballon d'Or winner since 1956, from Stanley Matthews to Ousmane Dembélé, plus how Messi and Ronaldo rewrote the record books.

What Is the Ballon d'Or?

The Ballon d'Or ("Golden Ball") is soccer's oldest and most prestigious individual award, handed out annually by France Football magazine to the player judged to have performed best over the previous season. It was originally limited to European players and voted on by European journalists. Players of any nationality at European clubs became eligible in 1995, and the award went fully global in 2007. From 2010 to 2015 it was merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year as the FIFA Ballon d'Or, before becoming an independent award again in 2016. Today the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris also hands out awards for the best women's player (the Ballon d'Or Féminin), best goalkeeper (the Yashin Trophy), best young player (the Kopa Trophy), and top goalscorer (the Gerd Müller Trophy).

Ballon d'Or All-Time Leaders

For nearly two decades, Messi and Ronaldo simply took turns: between 2008 and 2017, one of the two won every single year. That streak only broke in 2018, when Luka Modrić won on the back of Real Madrid's Champions League three-peat and Croatia's run to the World Cup final.

Every Ballon d'Or Winner, 1956 to 2025

Here is every men's Ballon d'Or winner, newest first, with the club they played for when they won. Until 1995 the award was open only to European players, which is why Liberia's George Weah, in 1995, was the first winner from outside Europe.

Ousmane Since 2008, only four men other than Messi and Ronaldo have won it: Modrić (2018), Benzema (2022), Rodri (2024) and Dembélé (2025). Dembélé scored 35 goals with 16 assists across 53 appearances as PSG won the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France. That historic treble made the case for him almost unanimous.

The Ballon d'Or Féminin

The women's award didn't exist until 2018, when Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg became the inaugural winner. Since then it has become a genuine showcase for the women's game's biggest stars, including Megan Rapinoe (2019) and Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022). Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí has since taken over the award entirely, winning three consecutive years and becoming the first woman to do so. Her run has coincided with Barcelona's dominance in Europe and Spain's rise as a global power in the women's game.

The Only Goalkeeper to Ever Win It

One record looks unbreakable: Lev Yashin, the legendary Soviet goalkeeper nicknamed "The Black Spider," remains the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or, doing so in 1963. Modern voting trends heavily favor attacking players and midfielders who directly produce goals, which is part of why the Yashin Trophy (introduced in 2019) now exists as a separate award specifically to recognize the best goalkeeper each year, without requiring keepers to compete against strikers for the main prize.

How the Voting Works Today

France Football overhauled the voting in 2022. The jury is now made up of journalists, one from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA men's world ranking, and each juror ranks their top players from a shortlist. The award now covers a club season (roughly August to July) instead of a calendar year. That's why a strong finish to the season, like Dembélé's treble with PSG, can be decisive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has won the most Ballon d'Or awards?

Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d'Or wins (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023). Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).

Who won the Ballon d'Or in 2025?

Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain won the 2025 Ballon d'Or after leading PSG to a treble, including the UEFA Champions League. Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona won the Ballon d'Or Féminin, her third straight.

When did the Ballon d'Or start?

The Ballon d'Or was first awarded in 1956 by France Football magazine, with English winger Stanley Matthews as the inaugural winner.

Has a goalkeeper ever won the Ballon d'Or?

Yes. Lev Yashin of the Soviet Union and Dynamo Moscow won the Ballon d'Or in 1963, and remains the only goalkeeper ever to win it.

When did the women's Ballon d'Or start?

The Ballon d'Or Féminin was introduced in 2018. Ada Hegerberg won the first edition; Aitana Bonmatí has since become the first three-time winner.