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The Ballon d'Or is an award which has captured the imagination of football fans, pundits and players all over Europe and the world. There have been some truly great players who have won the prestigious individual prize and cemented their legacy as world-class superstars.
Earlier, the award was restricted to only European footballers, which meant that greats like Pele and Diego Maradona never had the opportunity to win the award. However, in 1995, the award was expanded to include even non-Europeans, provided they played in the continent.
In 2007, the award became global, including all the players from around the world. In this article, we attempt to pick out and rank the best ten players who have won the Ballon d'Or award.
#10 Franz Beckenbauer
Germany and Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer is arguably the greatest defender ever to play the game. Nicknamed Der Kaiser, Beckenbauer led Germany and Bayern Munich to immense success, winning 4 Bundesliga titles, 3 European Cups and the World Cup.
Starting his career as a defensive midfielder, Beckenbauer soon made the shift to defence, where he pioneered the sweeper role. Brilliant on the ball and an excellent reader of the game, the German was a significant reason for Bayern's dominance in Europe.
The legendary defender won 2 Ballon d'Ors in 1972 and 1976 for his wonderful performances for both West Germany and Bayern Munich. This quote from Boris Becker epitomises what an unbelievable player back in the day, as he lavished praise on his conmpatriot.
"Franz Beckenbauer symbolises football and a winning mentality. On top of that, he brought the World Cup to his own country. We're proud of him."
Being a centre-back didn't stop him from scoring some genuinely amazing goals.
#9 Ronaldinho
The first step towards Barcelona’s dominance of modern football was achieved with the signing of Ronaldinho. One of the most skilled players ever to play the game, Ronaldinho’s signing in 2003 ushered in a new era of dominance for the Catalan giants.
A first league title in six years was a direct result of the Brazilian’s artistry. Who can forget the way he destroyed Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2005, where even the Madridistas stood up to applaud – a gesture that is only reserved for the very best opponents.
Winner of the Ballon d'Or award in 2005, Ronaldinho was simply unplayable on his day. Blessed with immense talent and technical ability, the Brazilian terrorised opposition defences with his tricks, dribbles and stunning goals.
A man who personified the ethos of the beautiful game, Ronaldinho is undoubtedly one of the most magical players ever to grace the football field. The only reason he is ranked at #9 is the fact that his peak only lasted for a short time compared to the other legends on this list.
#8 George Best
Charismatic and supremely talented, George Best was the first in a long line of truly great number 7s to play for Manchester United. United fans were so enamoured by the stunning displays he put in that banners of ‘Maradona Good, Pele Better, George Best’ became common.
Considered by many pundits to be among the greatest dribblers of all time, Best with his skills, feints, tricks and pace completely tormented opposition defenders and always showed up when the stakes were high.
Best won the Ballon d'Or in 1968, as he spearheaded Manchester United to their maiden European Cup victory. The legendary attacker also scored a stunning goal against Benfica in the final and finished as the top scorer in the league in the 1967-68 season.
Perhaps no one better described Best's style of play than Sports Writer Hugh Mcllvaney.
"With feet as sensitive as a pickpocket's hands, his control of the ball under the most violent pressure was astonishing. The bewildering repertoire of feints and swerves... And balance that would have made Isaac Newton decide he might as well have eaten the apple."
George Best at his best was indeed as good as Pele and Maradona.
#7 Michel Platini
France might well consider their greatest ever player to be Zinedine Zidane. However, before the current Real Madrid manager had weaved his magic, Les Blues had another improbably talented playmaker - Michel Platini.
Credited with making France a global superpower in football, the diminutive Frenchman enjoyed a long and fruitful career for club and country. Operating as a number 10, Platini often reserved his best for the biggest matches, scoring several crucial goals when it mattered the most.
The Frenchman won the Ballon d'Or three years consecutively between 1983 and 1985. However, his best year was undoubtedly 1984, when he almost singlehandedly guided France to their maiden European Championship title, scoring an incredible nine goals in just five games.
Platini's impact on his countrymen can perhaps best be summed up by Zidane's quotes.
"When I was a kid and played with my friends, I always chose to be Platini. I let my friends share the names of my other idols between themselves."
Platini is credited with putting French football on the map, and is definitely one of the greatest footballers of all time.
#6 Alfredo Di Stefano
Real Madrid's greatest ever player and an integral part of their dominance in the 1950s, Alfredo Di Stefano had a long 20-year career, where he was among the top footballers of the world for the entire duration.
Best known for his achievements with Real Madrid, Di Stefano scored an incredible 307 goals in 396 appearances and won 15 major honours with Los Blancos, including five straight European Championships.
Winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1957 and 1959, the Real Madrid legend was considered by some people to be even better than Pele and Maradona. Legendary manager Helenio Herrera also said Di Stefano was the greatest footballer of all time.
"Alfredo Di Stéfano was the greatest footballer of all time – far better even than Pelé. He was, simultaneously, the anchor in defence, the playmaker in midfield, and the most dangerous marksman in attack.”
A complete playmaker, Di Stefano could score and set up goals with ease. Technically gifted and one of the most successful club footballers of all time, Di Stefano is one of the main reasons for Real Madrid's legacy in club football.
#5 Johan Cruyff
The man who created a whole new philosophy of ‘total football,’ Johan Cruyff is rightly considered by many to be one of the most influential people in football's history. The Dutchman redefined the way the game was played and won the Ballon d'Or award an incredible three times (1971,1973 and 1974) during his stellar career.
Cruyff first created his legacy in Ajax, where he guided the Dutch giants to multiple league titles and three stunning European Championships, playing an integral role and leading from the front. However, what he is best remembered for in the modern era is the transformation he brought at Barcelona.
Guiding the Catalan giants to their first league title in 14 years immediately after joining them, Cruyff introduced the ethos of tiki-taka at the Camp Nou and kickstarted a new era at Barcelona.
Barcelona's ex-President Joan Laporta hit the nail on the head when he said:
"As a player, he turned football into an art form. Johan came along and revolutionised everything. The modern-day Barça started with him; he is the expression of our identity, and he brought us a style of football we love."
Cruyff's contributions to the beautiful game as a player and a manager have cemented his status as one of the all-time greats.
#4 Zinedine Zidane
A real big match player, Zinedine Zidane won the Ballon d'Or in 1998 for his stunning performances with the French national team and Italian giants Juventus. While the legendary Frenchman might have claimed only one Ballon d'Or during his inspirational career, what set him apart from other players was his incredible longevity.
The mercurial midfielder scored several important goals for club and country in his long career as a player and almost spearheaded France to World Cup glory in 2006, before he received his marching orders in extra-time for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi. His idol, Platini knew just how good he was.
"Technically, I think he is the king of what's fundamental in the game — control and passing. I don't think anyone can match him when it comes to controlling or receiving the ball."
Zidane remains one of the most elegant players ever to grace the football pitch.
#3 Ronaldo Nazario
When a player plays for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan and still has no haters, you know that he is something special. Ronaldo Nazario, popularly known as 'O Fenomeno' is probably the greatest striker ever to play the game.
Winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1997 and 2002, Ronaldo, during his single season at Barcelona, was almost unplayable. Blessed with pace, physicality, technical skills, dribbling and excellent finishing ability, Ronaldo was a complete footballer with no glaring weaknesses.
Former Atletico Madrid and Manchester United star Quinton Fortune even said that Ronaldo was the greatest player he has ever seen:
"He was physical perfection, and he seemed like a mythical figure. I love [Lionel] Messi, I played many times with Cristiano [Ronaldo], and I adore him, Neymar is outstanding, Ronaldinho was exceptional—but if you put all of them together, you might get what Ronaldo was that season."
Guiding Brazil to the World Cup title in 2002, Ronaldo, for 5-6 years was head and shoulders above any forward in world football. Emerson articulated what many fans and pundits felt when he said.
"I wasn't able to see Pelé play, but I've seen Ronaldo, and I've never seen a player like him. He's unique, number one in everything."
If a tragic knee injury and weight issues hadn't cut short his career, 'O Fenomeno' would have probably been the greatest footballer ever to play the game.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest footballers of our generation without a doubt. Driving each other on to glory and greatness, the duo have broken numerous goalscoring and individual records.
With 5 Ballon d'Or awards to his name, the Portuguese superstar is still going strong and is determined to end his career as the best footballer ever to play the game. A precociously talented kid in Sporting CP, Cristiano Ronaldo was discovered by Sir Alex Ferguson, and it is at Manchester United that the Portuguese Superstar first cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of our generation.
The legendary George Best was so impressed with Ronaldo that he lavished praise on the Portuguese superstar.
"There have been a few players described as 'the new George Best' over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me."
Arguably the best goal scorer to ever play the game, Ronaldo is primed to achieve further greatness with Juventus and the Portuguese national team.
#1 Lionel Messi
The only footballer in the history of the game to win the Ballon d'Or a staggering six times, Lionel Messi has redefined what a footballer can individually do in a match.
Bursting onto the scene as a fresh-faced La Masia teenager in 2005, Messi, under the tutelage of Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola, honed his skills and established himself as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game.
Having arguably taken his game to new heights, the only thing keeping Messi away from being declared the greatest player of all time is the lack of a World Cup trophy. Mascherano's incredible comments can see Messi's importance to Barcelona and the club about the little magician:
"[Messi] is indispensable, but the rest of us are dispensable. – No, the club is bigger than any manager, than any player. except Leo. That's the reality, and you have to accept it."
Capable of some outrageous things on the football field, Messi is all set to go down as one of the most iconic figures in the history of the game.
