5 youngest footballers to win the Ballon d'Or

Barcelona v Espanyol - La Liga
Lionel Messi with his first Ballon d'Or in 2009

#4 George Best in 1968 (22 years, 8 months)

George Best
George Best

Northern Ireland's prodigy George Best is known as the football's first true superstar. He had the looks, personality and the lifestyle to become a popular figure into the world of mainstream entertainment.

Even though it spread wider than just football, his popularity was possible because of what he did on the pitch. Best was a part of ''the holy trinity'' with two other legendary forwards Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law in Manchester United. In 1967/68 season Northern Ireland's winger scored 32 goals, helping United win their first ever European Cup trophy.

22-year-old Best went on to win his first and unfortunately only Ballon d'Or, beating his teammate Charlton. For almost 30 years Best was the youngest ever winner of this award and three years later he finished 3rd in voting.

After many years of dominating in England, Best's career went to downhill in the early 70s along with the decline of Manchester United. He was still only 27 when he left. Best played for ten clubs over the next decade, never reaching the heights he once had.

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Edited by Sundaresh Kumar