All-time Ballon d'Or Winners XI

It's that time of the year again where the best footballer in the world is crowned - again! Ever since FIFA and the Ballon d'Or split, two awards have been given out every year.

But the Ballon d'Or remains the most prestigious of the two. The first ever award was given away more than 60 years ago and legends of the game have since been honoured with the beautiful trophy, many even winning it on multiple occasions.

So what if we made a combined XI of the players who have taken home this award? What would it look like?

Formation: 3-5-2

Goalkeeper: Lev Yashin

Till date, only one goalkeeper has ever won the Ballon d'Or and that was back in 1963. Lev Yashin (aka Black Spider) was a man who was ahead of his time when it came to goalkeeping.

There's a reason why he is considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time. While the rest of the game was catching up in terms of athleticism, Yashin was paving the way with his performances in goal.

“He was the greatest goalkeeper in history, and he was easily the greatest at saving penalties. Just seeing him being in between the posts put many great, confident players off. I knew I had to strike a perfect shot.” - Eusebio

Having saved over 150 penalties in his career, Yashin commanded respect when he stood in goal. A one-club man who spent his entire career with Dynamo Moscow, Yashin kept over 270 clean sheets in a career that spanned 400 games for club and country (unofficial stats).

And yet, when he collected the award for the best player in the world, he was quick to point out that he wasn't the best goalkeeper around.

"I am not the best goalkeeper in the world, it is Vladimir Beara (of Yugoslavia)." - Yashin

Defender: Franz Beckenbauer

Very few defenders have won the Ballon d'Or because formations and roles have evolved over the past few decades. More than half a century ago, there was not traditional "back-four" but just one or two defenders and sweepers protecting the goalkeeper.

But one player who redefined the role of the sweeper (libero) was Franz Beckenbauer. Nicknamed Der Kaiser (The Emperor), Beckenbauer dominated the defensive line thanks to his freedom to move around and play the role of an attacking sweeper.

His playing style often stood out, a commanding presence at the back who still played an elegant brand of football. Most sweepers would stay put in their half but not Beckenbauer.

He would pick up the ball and make runs into the opponent's half - the pupper master at the back pulling strings. In a career that spanned nearly 20 years, he won 21 trophies including three Champions League titles, a World Cup, and a Euro.

Beckenbauer also made the Ballon d'Or podium thrice - winning it in 1972 and 1976, finishing runners-up in 1974 and 1975, and finishing third in 1966.

Defender: Matthias Sammer

Another defensive midfielder who was converted into a sweeper was Germany's Matthias Sammer. Born in Dresden, he initially played for East Germany before reunification in 1990.

In the mid-90s, Sammer played for Borussia Dortmund and that was when he was at his peak. He made more than 150 appearances for Dortmund before injuries cut short his career.

It was Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who had the brainwave of converting him into a libero and it saw the club win back-to-back Bundesliga titles which was quickly followed by their sole Champions League triumph.

Sammer's role was a lot similar to that of Beckenbauer. He was quick with the ball, lethal in the tackle, and even made runs forward to get attacks going.

A winner of the German Footballer of the Year award in 1995 and 1996, the domestic double and Euro '96 triumph went a long way in him lifting the Ballon d'Or.

Defender: Fabio Cannavaro

Fabio Cannavaro Ballon d'Or — Fabio Cannavaro

Il Muro di Berlino (The Berlin Wall) - that's what Fabio Cannavaro was nicknamed after a stellar performance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final that saw Italy lift their fourth title.

He was their capitano; and his leadership and presence in the squad saw him win not only the Ballon d'Or but also the FIFA World Player of the Year. He also became only the third defender to win the Ballon d'Or.

When Italian football reeled from the Calciopoli scandal that had rocked Serie A, the Azzurri were not expected to bring the trophy home. But Cannavaro rallied his troops as club rivalries and results were put aside to focus on the dream of winning the World Cup.

In the entire tournament (690 minutes), he never picked up a booking and helped Italy keep five clean sheets, conceding only twice - an own goal and Zidane's penalty in the final. Zidane had even narrowly beaten him to the Golden Ball trophy.

His best performance came against hosts Germany and a memorable moment came at 1-0 when he won an aerial duel with Per Mertesacker, tackled Lukas Podolski, and then fed the ball to the attack that saw Italy score the second and seal their qualification.

Defensive Midfield: Lothar Matthaus

The 1986 World Cup final saw Argentina beat 3-2 but Diego Maradona never got on the score sheet in spite of scoring five times in the tournament - all because he was man-marked by Germany's Lothar Matthaus.

"He is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him." - Diego Maradona

At the time he was at Bayern Munich and he was well-known for his positional intelligence, well-timed tackles, and a rocket of a foot that allowed him to score with power.

A box-to-box midfielder who also played as a sweeper, Matthaus had two stints at Bayern Munich apart from a few years at Borussia Monchengladbach and Serie A side Inter Milan.

With over 800 appearances for club and country in a career that lasted 21 years, Matthaus had even managed to score 204 goals.

Although they failed to win the World Cup in 1986, they returned to the final in 1990 and Matthaus' four goals had been instrumental in their triumph - one of the reasons he picked up the Ballon d'Or the same year.

He also holds the record for most caps for Germany with 150 to his name.

Attacking Midfield: Michel Platini

Michel Platini was a great player that was probably born in the wrong French generation. The man won everything there was to win in football except the FIFA World Cup.

But take nothing away from his ruthlessness when it came to scoring goals. With over 350 goals for club and country, he was a playmaker who always found space to demand the ball and create magic in midfield.

Between 1983 and 1985, Platini won the Ballon d'Or all three times to become the first player to win it in three consecutive years. He also finished third in 1977 and 1980.

And to think that his career was almost ended before it took off due to severe injuries - a double fracture of his right leg when he was 19, breaking his ankle in three places when he was 23.

Before Wenger brought truckloads of French players to Arsenal, Platini himself was in talks for a move to Highbury before Juventus stepped in and signed him up. The Gunners' loss was The Old Lady's gain as Platini, at his peak, led Juve to two Serie A titles and a European Cup.

Attacking Midfield: Johan Cruyff

"You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you." - Cruyff

One of the founding fathers of Total Football, Johan Cruyff's ability to drop deep and collect the ball was a warning for opponents. The Dutch legend was a wizard with the ball at his feet and even has a move named after him - the Cruyff Turn.

How he managed to twist his body and leg to bewitch Sweden remains one of the greatest memories in World Cup history. Unluckily for him, he too never won the World Cup with the Oranje falling at the final hurdle.

"If he wanted he could be the best player in any position on the pitch." - Eric Cantona

But it was at Ajax that he forged his legacy. Eight Eredivisie titles and three European Cups stand testament to that. Those European Cups, domestic dominance, and his performances at the 1974 World Cup saw him become the first player to win three Ballons d'Or.

With 401 goals for club and country in a career that spanned two decades, Cruyff's legacy - as both a player and manager - is one that will live on forever.

Right Wing: Lionel Messi

Once Lionel Messi lifted his first Ballon d'Or trophy back in 2009, he never looked back. Raised at Barcelona's La Masia and converted into a destroyer of defences (literally overnight before a Clasico) by Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona talisman went on to win it again in 2010, 2011, and 2012 to become the first player to lift it four times.

He would win it again in 2015 after Barcelona won the treble for the second time in his career. What's more, he has finished runners-up four times and even finished third in 2007. Such a decade of dominance is unprecedented in the football history.

What's left to be said about the Argentine forward that hasn't been said already? Football history can actually be divided into two different eras as far as statistics and records are concerned - Before Messi and After Messi.

A number of different players held various goalscoring records which have now been eclipsed by the Barcelona no.10. And the fact that he still has a few more years to go suggests his records will be untouchable once he hangs up his boots.

Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or 2017 winner — Cristiano Ronaldo

After winning his first Ballon d'Or title in 2008, Ronaldo had to watch from the sidelines as a dominant Barcelona helped Messi clinch four in a row between 2009 and 2012. But that did not stop the Portuguese forward who has now drawn level with the Argentine forward with five.

Winning four of the last five has proven his credentials as one of the greatest of all time despite being 32 years old now. And the fifth was well-deserved, especially after scoring 10 goals in the knockout stages of the 2016/17 Champions League - including hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid before grabbing a brace in the final against a highly-fancied Juventus.

Ronaldo has been written off time and again and yet he comes back stronger. The 2017/18 season has seen him get off to a poor start in La Liga but he has already set a new record in the Champions League after scoring in each and every game in the group stage.

Whether he can keep Messi (and now Neymar) at bay in 2018 is up for debate but his hard work and determination to succeed to prove everyone wrong remains one of his strongest suits.

Striker: Marco van Basten

If fate had been kind, Marco van Basten may have won a lot more than just three Serie A titles and two European Cups with AC Milan. He may have even taken the Netherlands far in the 1994 World Cup.

Unfortunately, an ankle injury cut short his career and a number of surgeries were not enough to get him back on the pitch. Sadly, he had to retire at 28!

"Marco was the greatest striker I ever coached. His early retirement was a mortal misfortune for him, for football, and for Milan." - Fabio Capello

The Dutch striker led from the front when AC Milan won back-to-back European Cups in 1988/89 and 1989/90. At 6'2", he was an imposing figure in the box and a clinical finisher.

Despite his height, he was known for scoring a number of acrobatic goals (with Ajax and Milan). Bicycle kicks were a trademark with Van Basten and he was also strong on both feet. Most managers would stick him up front to be on the end of crosses but he also had the intelligence to drop deep and distribute the ball with his keen vision on the pitch.

He was nicknamed The Swan of Utrecht because he was so graceful with the ball. His height never came in the way of his balance and his ball control.

Van Basten won the Ballon d'Or in 1988, 1989, and 1992. But he could have won more and could have become the first player to win four if not for the ankle surgeries.

Striker: Ronaldo Nazario

As football coverage on television exploded in the '90s, one player became synonymous with an entire generation of fans as he wagged his finger after finding the back of the net. Brazil's very own striker Ronaldo - The Phenomenon.

The speed with which he dribbled the ball and ran at defenders sent a rush through the stands and those watching the game on TV. There was nothing quite like it - the agility, the flair, the acceleration and sudden deceleration with the ball.

"He's not a man, he's a herd." - Former Real Madrid forward Jorge Valdano

The 1998 World Cup ended on a sour note after he played the final despite falling ill prior to the game. But he soon put it behind him to lead the Selecao to their fifth World Cup title in 2002 with 8 goals - including a brace in the final.

"Imagine you asked God to be the best player in the world, and he listened to you." - Nike commercial that celebrated his solo goal

Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or twice - in 1997 and 2002. While his achievements to win the 2002 trophy are well-documented, his one-year stint with Barcelona rarely gets a mention. He was more popularly known as a Real Madrid Galactico after all.

The 1996/97 season saw him score an astounding 47 goals in 49 matches (which included 34 goals in La Liga to win the European Golden Shoe). Sadly, he too was a victim of injuries which eventually saw him lose his pace as his career wore on.

Nevertheless, he remains an idol to many players in the current generation - including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.