Since 1956 the bi-weekly (formerly weekly) French magazine France Football awards the "Ballon d'Or" for the best European Footballer of the calendar year. Only players from European clubs are eligible. Until 1994 any player from an European National Team was eligible; since 1995 any player from a European club (regardless of his nationality) is eligible but he must also be part of a preliminary list of 50 players established by France Football.
Voters are journalists - one from each member country of UEFA. Each voter chooses 5 players and points are awarded as follows: 5 points for a first place in a voters' list, 4 points for second, 3 points for third, 2 points for fourth, and 1 point for fifth.
In 2010 the election was not held but combined with the FIFA World Player of the Year. As that is (theoretically) not restricted to players active at European clubs, that is considered the end of the European Footballer of the Year.
The cooperation between FIFA and France Football ended in 2016; since that year France Football again offers its own award.
The 20th century winners chose France Football's Player of the Century in 1999.
1956 Stanley MATTHEWS (Eng) Blackpool (Eng)
1957 Alfredo DI STÉFANO (Spa [*]) Real Madrid (Spa)
1958 Raymond KOPA (Fra) Real Madrid (Spa)
1959 Alfredo DI STÉFANO (Spa [*]) Real Madrid (Spa)
1960 Luis SUÁREZ (Spa) Barcelona (Spa)
1961 Omar SIVORI (Ita [*]) Juventus (Ita)
1962 Josef MASOPUST (Cze) Dukla Praha (Cze)
1963 Lev YASHIN (SU) Dynamo Moskva (SU)
1964 Denis LAW (Sco) Manchester United (Eng)
1965 EUSÉBIO (Por) Benfica (Por)
1966 Bobby CHARLTON (Eng) Manchester United (Eng)
1967 Flórián ALBERT (Hun) Ferencváros (Hun)
1968 George BEST (Nil) Manchester United (Eng)
1969 Gianni RIVERA (Ita) Milan (Ita)
1970 Gerd MÜLLER (Ger) Bayern München (Ger)
1971 Johan CRUIJFF (Net) Ajax (Net)
1972 Franz BECKENBAUER (Ger) Bayern München (Ger)
1973 Johan CRUIJFF (Net) Barcelona (Spa)
1974 Johan CRUIJFF (Net) Barcelona (Spa)
1975 Oleg BLOKHIN (SU) Dynamo Kiev (SU)
1976 Franz BECKENBAUER (Ger) Bayern München (Ger)
1977 Alan SIMONSEN (Den) Borussia Mönchengladbach (Ger)
1978 Kevin KEEGAN (Eng) Hamburger SV (Ger)
1979 Kevin KEEGAN (Eng) Hamburger SV (Ger)
1980 Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE (Ger) Bayern München (Ger)
1981 Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE (Ger) Bayern München (Ger)
1982 Paolo ROSSI (Ita) Juventus (Ita)
1983 Michel PLATINI (Fra) Juventus (Ita)
1984 Michel PLATINI (Fra) Juventus (Ita)
1985 Michel PLATINI (Fra) Juventus (Ita)
1986 Igor BELANOV (SU) Dynamo Kiev (SU)
1987 Ruud GULLIT (Net) Milan (Ita)
1988 Marco VAN BASTEN (Net) Milan (Ita)
1989 Marco VAN BASTEN (Net) Milan (Ita)
1990 Lothar MATTHÄUS (Ger) Internazionale (Ita)
1991 Jean-Pierre PAPIN (Fra) Olympique Marseille (Fra)
1992 Marco VAN BASTEN (Net) Milan (Ita)
1993 Roberto BAGGIO (Ita) Juventus (Ita)
1994 Hristo STOITCHKOV (Bul) Barcelona (Spa)
1995 George WEAH (Lib) Milan (Ita)
1996 Matthias SAMMER (Ger) Borussia Dortmund (Ger)
1997 RONALDO (Bra) Internazionale (Ita)
1998 Zinedine ZIDANE (Fra) Juventus (Ita)
1999 RIVALDO (Bra) Barcelona (Spa)
2000 Luis FIGO (Por) Real Madrid (Spa)
2001 Michael OWEN (Eng) Liverpool (Eng)
2002 RONALDO (Bra) Real Madrid (Spa)
2003 Pavel NEDVED (Cze) Juventus (Ita)
2004 Andriy SHEVCHENKO (Ukr) Milan (Ita)
2005 RONALDINHO (Bra) Barcelona (Spa)
2006 Fabio CANNAVARO (Ita) Real Madrid (Spa)
2007 KAKÁ (Bra) Milan (Ita)
2008 Cristiano RONALDO (Por) Manchester United (Eng)
2009 Lionel MESSI (Arg) Barcelona (Spa)
2010 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2011 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2012 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2013 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2014 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2015 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2016 Cristiano RONALDO (Por) Real Madrid (SPA)
2017 Cristiano RONALDO (Por) Real Madrid (SPA)
2018 Luka MODRIC (Cro) Real Madrid (SPA)
2019 Lionel MESSI (Arg) Barcelona (Spa)
2020 not awarded
2021 Lionel MESSI (Arg) Paris St. Germain (FRA)
2022 Karim BENZEMA (Fra) Real Madrid (SPA)
[*] Di Stéfano and Sivori were born in Argentina and first played
for that country.
Wins by Club: Real Madrid 10 (Di Stéfano 2, Cristiano Ronaldo 2, Kopa, Figo, Ronaldo, Cannavaro, Modric, Benzema) Barcelona 8 (Cruijff 2, Messi 2, Suárez, Stoitchkov, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho) Juventus 8 (Platini 3, Sivori, Rossi, Baggio, Zidane, Nedved) Milan 8 (Van Basten 3, Rivera, Gullit, Weah, Shevchenko, Kaká) Bayern München 5 (Beckenbauer 2, Rummenigge 2, Müller) Manchester United 4 (Law, Charlton, Best, Cristiano Ronaldo) Dynamo Kiev 2 (Blokhin, Belanov) Hamburger SV 2 (Keegan) Internazionale 2 (Matthäus, Ronaldo) Ajax 1 (Cruijff) Benfica 1 (Eusébio) Blackpool 1 (Matthews) Borussia Dortmund 1 (Sammer) Borussia MG 1 (Simonsen) Dukla Praha 1 (Masopust) Dynamo Moskva 1 (Yashin) Ferencváros 1 (Albert) Liverpool 1 (Owen) Olymp. Marseille 1 (Papin) Paris St. Germain 1 (Messi) Wins by Country: France 7 (Platini 3, Kopa, Papin, Zidane, Benzema) Germany 7 (Beckenbauer 2, Rummenigge 2, Müller, Matthäus, Sammer) Netherlands 7 (Cruijff 3, Van Basten 3, Gullit) Brazil 5 (Ronaldo 2, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká) England 5 (Keegan 2, Matthews, Charlton, Owen) Italy 5 (Sivori, Rivera, Rossi, Baggio, Cannavaro) Portugal 5 (Cristiano Ronaldo 3, Eusébio, Figo) Argentina 3 (Messi 3) Soviet Union 3 (Belanov, Blokhin, Yashin) Spain 3 (Di Stéfano 2, Suárez) Bulgaria 1 (Stoitchkov) Croatia 1 (Modric) Czech Republic 1 (Nedved) Czechoslovakia 1 (Masopust) Denmark 1 (Simonsen) Hungary 1 (Albert) Liberia 1 (Weah) Northern Ireland 1 (Best) Scotland 1 (Law) Ukraine 1 (Shevchenko) Wins by League: Italy 18 Spain 18 Germany 9 England 6 Soviet Union 3 France 2 Czechoslovakia 1 Hungary 1 Netherlands 1 Portugal 1 Wins by Player: Van Basten 3 Cruijff 3 Platini 3 Cristiano Ronaldo 3 Messi 3 Beckenbauer 2 Keegan 2 Ronaldo 2 K.H. Rummenigge 2 Di Stéfano 2 Albert 1 R. Baggio 1 Belanov 1 Benzema 1 Best 1 Blokhin 1 Cannavaro 1 B. Charlton 1 Eusébio 1 Figo 1 Gullit 1 Kaká 1 Kopa 1 Law 1 Masopust 1 Matthäus 1 Matthews 1 Modric 1 G. Müller 1 Nedved 1 Owen 1 Papin 1 Rivaldo 1 Rivera 1 Ronaldinho 1 Rossi 1 Sammer 1 Shevchenko 1 Simonsen 1 Sivori 1 Stoitchkov 1 Suárez 1 Weah 1 Yashin 1 Zidane 1
1956
1. Stanley MATTHEWS (Blackpool) (England) 47
2. Alfredo di Stéfano (Real Madrid) (Spain) 44
3. Raymond Kopa (Stade Reims) (France) 33
4. Ferenc Puskás (Honvéd) (Hungary) 32
5. Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moskva) (Soviet Union) 19
1957
1. Alfredo DI STÉFANO (Real Madrid) (Spain) 72
2. Billy Wright (Wolverhampton Wanderers) (England) 19
3. Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid) (France) 16
4. Duncan Edwards (Manchester United) (England) 16
5. Lászlo Kubala (Barcelona) (Spain) 15
1958
1. Raymond KOPA (Real Madrid) (France) 71
2. Helmut Rahn (Rot-Weiß Essen) (West Germany) 40
3. Just Fontaine (Stade Reims) (France) 23
4. Kurt Hamrin (Fiorentina) (Sweden) 15
John Charles (Juventus) (Wales) 15
1959
1. Alfredo DI STÉFANO (Real Madrid) (Spain) 80
2. Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid) (France) 42
3. John Charles (Juventus) (Wales) 24
4. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) (Spain) 22
5. Agne Simonsson (Örgryte) (Sweden) 20
1960
1. Luis SUÁREZ (Barcelona) (Spain) 54
2. Ferenc Puskás (Real Madrid) (Hungary) 37
3. Uwe Seeler (Hamburger SV) (West Germany) 33
4. Alfredo di Stéfano (Real Madrid) (Spain) 32
5. Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moskva) (Soviet Union) 28
1961
1. Omar SIVORI (Juventus) (Italy) 46
2. Luis Suárez (Internazionale) (Spain) 40
3. Johnny Haynes (Fulham) (England) 22
4. Lev Yashin (Dynamo Moskva) (Soviet Union) 21
5. Ferenc Puskás (Real Madrid) (Spain) 16
1962
1. Josef MASOPUST (Dukla Praha) (Czechoslovakia) 65
2. Eusébio (Benfica) (Portugal) 53
3. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (1.FC Köln) (West Germany) 33
4. Dragoslav Sekularac (Crvena zvezda Beograd) (Yugoslavia) 26
5. Joseph Jurion (Anderlecht) (Belgium) 15
1963
1. Lev YASHIN (Dynamo Moskva) (Soviet Union) 73
2. Gianni Rivera (Milan) (Italy) 55
3. Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur) (England) 50
4. Denis Law (Manchester United) (Scotland) 45
5. Eusébio (Benfica) (Portugal) 19
1964
1. Denis LAW (Manchester United) (Scotland) 61
2. Luis Suárez (Internazionale) (Spain) 43
3. Amancio (Real Madrid) (Spain) 38
4. Eusébio (Benfica) (Portugal) 31
5. Paul Van Himst (Anderlecht) (Belgium) 28
1965
1. EUSÉBIO (Benfica) (Portugal) 67
2. Giacinto Facchetti (Internazionale) (Italy) 59
3. Luis Suárez (Internazionale) (Spain) 45
4. Paul Van Himst (Anderlecht) (Belgium) 25
5. Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) (England) 19
1966
1. Bobby CHARLTON (Manchester United) (England) 81
2. Eusébio (Benfica) (Portugal) 80
3. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 59
4. Bobby Moore (West Ham United) (England) 31
5. Flórián Albert (Ferencváros) (Hungary) 23
1967
1. Flórián ALBERT (Ferencváros) (Hungary) 68
2. Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) (England) 40
3. Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic) (Scotland) 39
4. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 37
5. Eusébio (Benfica) (Portugal) 26
1968
1. George BEST (Manchester United) (Northern Ireland) 61
2. Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) (England) 53
3. Dragan Dzajic (Crvena zvezda Beograd) (Yugoslavia) 46
4. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 36
5. Giacinto Facchetti (Internazionale) (Italy) 30
1969
1. Gianni RIVERA (Milan) (Italy) 83
2. Luigi Riva (Cagliari) (Italy) 79
3. Gerd Müller (Bayern München) (West Germany) 38
4. Johan Cruijff (Ajax) (Netherlands) 30
Ove Kindvall (Feijenoord) (Sweden) 30
1970
1. Gerd MÜLLER (Bayern München) (West Germany) 77
2. Bobby Moore (West Ham United) (England) 70
3. Luigi Riva (Cagliari) (Italy) 65
4. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 32
5. Wolfgang Overath (1.FC Köln) (West Germany) 29
1971
1. Johan CRUIJFF (Ajax) (Netherlands) 116
2. Sandro Mazzola (Internazionale) (Italy) 57
3. George Best (Manchester United) (Northern Ireland) 56
4. Günter Netzer (Borussia Mönchengladbach) (West Germany) 30
5. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 27
1972
1. Franz BECKENBAUER (Bayern München) (West Germany) 81
2. Gerd Müller (Bayern München) (West Germany) 79
3. Günter Netzer (Borussia Mönchengladbach) (West Germany) 79
4. Johan Cruijff (Ajax) (Netherlands) 73
5. Piet Keizer (Ajax) (Netherlands) 13
1973
1. Johan CRUIJFF (Barcelona) (Netherlands) 96
2. Dino Zoff (Juventus) (Italy) 47
3. Gerd Müller (Bayern München) (West Germany) 44
4. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 30
5. Billy Bremner (Leeds United) (Scotland) 22
1974
1. Johan CRUIJFF (Barcelona) (Netherlands) 116
2. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 105
3. Kazimierz Deyna (Legia Warszawa) (Poland) 35
4. Paul Breitner (Real Madrid) (West Germany) 32
5. Johan Neeskens (Barcelona) (Netherlands) 21
1975
1. Oleg BLOKHIN (Dynamo Kiev) (Soviet Union) 122
2. Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern München) (West Germany) 42
3. Johan Cruijff (Barcelona) (Netherlands) 27
4. Berti Vogts (Borussia Mönchengladbach) (West Germany) 25
5. Sepp Maier (Bayern München) (West Germany) 20
1976
1. Franz BECKENBAUER (Bayern München) (West Germany) 91
2. Robby Rensenbrink (Anderlecht) (Netherlands) 75
3. Ivo Viktor (Dukla Praha) (Czechoslovakia) 52
4. Kevin Keegan (Liverpool) (England) 32
5. Michel Platini (Nancy) (France) 19
1977
1. Alan SIMONSEN (Borussia Mönchengladbach) (Denmark) 74
2. Kevin Keegan (Hamburger SV) (England) 71
3. Michel Platini (Nancy) (France) 70
4. Roberto Bettega (Juventus) (Italy) 39
5. Johan Cruijff (Barcelona) (Netherlands) 23
1978
1. Kevin KEEGAN (Hamburger SV) (England) 87
2. Hans Krankl (Barcelona) (Austria) 81
3. Rob Rensenbrink (Anderlecht) (Netherlands) 50
4. Roberto Bettega (Juventus) (Italy) 28
5. Paolo Rossi (Lanerossi Vicenza) (Italy) 23
1979
1. Kevin KEEGAN (Hamburger SV) (England) 118
2. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern München) (West Germany) 52
3. Ruud Krol (Ajax) (Netherlands) 41
4. Manfred Kaltz (Hamburger SV) (West Germany) 27
5. Michel Platini (Saint-Etienne) (France) 23
1980
1. Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE (Bayern München) (West Germany) 122
2. Bernd Schuster (Barcelona) (West Germany) 34
3. Michel Platini (Saint-Etienne) (France) 33
4. Wilfried Van Moer (Beveren) (Belgium) 27
5. Jan Ceulemans (Club Brugge) (Belgium) 20
1981
1. Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE (Bayern München) (West Germany) 106
2. Paul Breitner (Bayern München) (West Germany) 64
3. Bernd Schuster (Barcelona) (West Germany) 39
4. Michel Platini (Saint-Etienne) (France) 36
5. Oleg Blokhin (Dynamo Kiev) (Soviet Union) 14
1982
1. Paolo ROSSI (Juventus) (Italy) 115
2. Alain Giresse (Girondins Bordeaux) (France) 64
3. Zbigniew Boniek (Juventus) (Poland) 53
4. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern München) (West Germany) 51
5. Bruno Conti (Roma) (Italy) 48
1983
1. Michel PLATINI (Juventus) (France) 110
2. Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) (Scotland) 26
3. Allan Simonsen (Vejle BK) (Denmark) 25
4. Gordon Strachan (Aberdeen) (Scotland) 24
5. Felix Magath (Hamburger SV) (West Germany) 20
1984
1. Michel PLATINI (Juventus) (France) 128
2. Jean Tigana (Girondins Bordeaux) (France) 57
3. Preben Elkjćr-Larsen (Hellas Verona) (Denmark) 48
4. Ian Rush (Liverpool) (Wales) 44
5. Chalana (Girondins Bordeaux) (Portugal) 18
1985
1. Michel PLATINI (Juventus) (France) 127
2. Preben Elkjćr-Larsen (Hellas Verona) (Denmark) 71
3. Bernd Schuster (Barcelona) (West Germany) 46
4. Michael Laudrup (Juventus) (Denmark) 14
5. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern München) (West Germany) 13
1986
1. Igor BELANOV (Dynamo Kiev) (Soviet Union) 84
2. Gary Lineker (Barcelona) (England) 62
3. Emilio Butragueńo (Real Madrid) (Spain) 59
4. Manuel Amoros (Monaco) (France) 22
Preben Elkjćr-Larsen (Hellas Verona) (Denmark) 22
1987
1. Ruud GULLIT (Milan) (Netherlands) 106
2. Paulo Futre (Atlético Madrid) (Portugal) 91
3. Emilio Butragueńo (Real Madrid) (Spain) 61
4. Gonzales Michel (Real Madrid) (Spain) 29
5. Gary Lineker (Barcelona) (England) 13
1988
1. Marco VAN BASTEN (Milan) (Netherlands) 129
2. Ruud Gullit (Milan) (Netherlands) 88
3. Frank Rijkaard (Milan) (Netherlands) 45
4. Alexei Mikhailichenko (Dynamo Kiev) (Soviet Union) 41
5. Ronald Koeman (PSV) (Netherlands) 39
1989
1. Marco VAN BASTEN (Milan) (Netherlands) 119
2. Franco Baresi (Milan) (Italy) 80
3. Frank Rijkaard (Milan) (Netherlands) 43
4. Lothar Matthäus (Internazionale) (West Germany) 24
5. Peter Shilton (Derby County) (England) 22
1990
1. Lothar MATTHÄUS (Internazionale) (West Germany) 137
2. Salvatore Schillaci (Juventus) (Italy) 84
3. Andreas Brehme (Internazionale) (West Germany) 68
4. Paul Gascoigne (Tottenham Hotspur) (England) 43
5. Franco Baresi (Milan) (Italy) 37
1991
1. Jean-Pierre PAPIN (Olympique Marseille) (France) 141
2. Lothar Matthäus (Internazionale) (Germany) 42
Darko Pancev (Crvena zvezda Beograd) (Yugoslavia) 42
Dejan Savicevic (Crvena zvezda Beograd) (Yugoslavia) 42
5. Robert Prosinecki (Real Madrid) (Yugoslavia) 34
1992
1. Marco VAN BASTEN (Milan) (Netherlands) 98
2. Hristo Stoitchkov (Barcelona) (Bulgaria) 80
3. Dennis Bergkamp (Ajax) (Netherlands) 53
4. Thomas Hässler (Roma) (Germany) 42
5. Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United) (Denmark) 41
1993
1. Roberto BAGGIO (Juventus) (Italy) 142
2. Dennis Bergkamp (Internazionale) (Netherlands) 83
3. Eric Cantona (Manchester United) (France) 34
4. Alen Boksic (Lazio) (Croatia) 29
5. Michael Laudrup (Barcelona) (Denmark) 27
1994
1. Hristo STOITCHKOV (Barcelona) (Bulgaria) 210
2. Roberto Baggio (Juventus) (Italy) 136
3. Paolo Maldini (Milan) (Italy) 109
4. Tomas Brolin (Parma) (Sweden) 68
Gheorghe Hagi (Barcelona) (Romania) 68
1995
1. George WEAH (Milan) (Liberia) 144
2. Jürgen Klinsmann (Bayern München) (Germany) 108
3. Jari Litmanen (Ajax) (Finland) 67
4. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) (Italy) 57
5. Patrick Kluivert (Ajax) (Netherlands) 47
1996
1. Matthias SAMMER (Borussia Dortmund) (Germany) 144
2. Ronaldo (Barcelona) (Brazil) 143
3. Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) (England) 107
4. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) (Italy) 69
5. Jürgen Klinsmann (Bayern München) (Germany) 60
1997
1. RONALDO (Internazionale) (Brazil) 222
2. Predrag Mijatovic (Real Madrid) (Yugoslavia) 68
3. Zinedine Zidane (Juventus) (France) 63
4. Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) (Netherlands) 57
5. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid) (Brazil) 47
1998
1. Zinedine ZIDANE (Juventus) (France) 244
2. Davor Suker (Real Madrid) (Croatia) 68
3. Ronaldo (Internazionale) (Brazil) 66
4. Michael Owen (Liverpool) (England) 51
5. Rivaldo (Barcelona) (Brazil) 45
1999
1. RIVALDO (Barcelona) (Brazil) 219
2. David Beckham (Manchester United) (England) 154
3. Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) (Ukraine) 64
4. Gabriel Batistuta (Fiorentina) (Argentina) 48
5. Luis Figo (Barcelona) (Portugal) 38
2000
1. Luis FIGO (Real Madrid) (Portugal) 197
2. Zinedine Zidane (Juventus) (France) 181
3. Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) (Ukraine) 85
4. Thierry Henry (Arsenal) (France) 57
5. Alessandro Nesta (Lazio) (Italy) 39
Rivaldo (Barcelona) (Brazil) 39
2001
1. Michael OWEN (Liverpool) (England) 176
2. Raúl (Real Madrid) (Spain) 140
3. Oliver Kahn (Bayern München) (Germany) 114
4. David Beckham (Manchester United) (England) 102
5. Francesco Totti (Roma) (Italy) 57
2002
1. RONALDO (Real Madrid) (Brazil) 169
2. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid) (Brazil) 145
3. Oliver Kahn (Bayern München) (Germany) 110
4. Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) (France) 78
5. Michael Ballack (Bayern München) (Germany) 71
2003
1. Pavel NEDVED (Juventus) (Czech Republic) 190
2. Thierry Henry (Arsenal) (France) 128
3. Paolo Maldini (Milan) (Italy) 123
4. Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) (Ukraine) 67
5. Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) (France) 64
2004
1. ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO (Milan) (Ukraine) 175
2. Deco (Barcelona) (Portugal) 139
3. Ronaldinho (Barcelona) (Brazil) 133
4. Thierry Henry (Arsenal) (France) 80
5. Theodoros Zagorakis (Bologna) (Greece) 44
2005
1. RONALDINHO (Barcelona) (Brazil) 225
2. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) (England) 148
3. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) (England) 142
4. Thierry Henry (Arsenal) (France) 41
5. Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) (Ukraine) 33
2006
1. Fabio CANNAVARO (Real Madrid) (Italy) 173
2. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) (Italy) 124
3. Thierry Henry (Arsenal) (France) 121
4. Ronaldinho (Barcelona) (Brazil) 73
5. Zinedine Zidane (none) (France) 71
2007
1. KAKÁ (Milan) (Brazil) 444
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) (Portugal) 277
3. Lionel Andrés Messi (Barcelona) (Argentina) 255
4. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) (Ivory Coast) 108
5. Andrea Pirlo (Milan) (Italy) 41
2008
1. Cristiano RONALDO (Manchester United) (Portugal) 446
2. Lionel Andrés Messi (Barcelona) (Argentina) 281
3. Fernando Torres (Liverpool) (Spain) 179
4. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) (Spain) 133
5. Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) (Spain) 97
2009
1. Lionel Andrés MESSI (Barcelona) (Argentina) 473
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) (Portugal) 233
3. Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) (Spain) 170
4. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) (Spain) 149
5. Samuel Eto'o (Inter) (Cameroon) 75
2016
1. Cristiano RONALDO (Real Madrid) (Portugal) 745
2. Lionel Andrés Messi (Barcelona) (Argentina) 316
3. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid) (France) 198
4. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) (Uruguay) 91
5. Neymar (Barcelona) (Brazil) 68
2017
1. Cristiano RONALDO (Real Madrid) (Portugal) 946
2. Lionel Andrés Messi (Barcelona) (Argentina) 670
3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) (Brazil) 361
4. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) (Italy) 221
5. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) (Croatia) 84
2018
1. Luka MODRIC (Real Madrid) (Croatia) 753
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) (Portugal) 478
3. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid) (France) 414
4. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) (France) 347
5. Lionel Andrés Messi (Barcelona) (Argentina) 280
2019
1. Lionel Andrés MESSI (Barcelona) (Argentina) 686
2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) (Netherlands) 679
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) (Portugal) 476
4. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) (Senegal) 347
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) (Egypt) 178
2021
1. Lionel Andrés MESSI (Paris Saint-Germain) (Argentina) 613
2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern München) (Poland) 580
3. Jorginho (Chelsea) (Italy) 460
4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) (France) 239
5. N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) (France) 186
2022
1. Karim BENZEMA (Real Madrid) (France) 549
2. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) (Senegal) 193
3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) (Belgium) 175
4. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern München) (Poland) 170
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) (Egypt) 116
Medals by Club
G S B tot
1.Real Madrid 10 8 4 22
2.Barcelona 8 9 6 23
3.Juventus 8 6 4 18
4.Milan 8 3 6 17
5.Bayern München 5 7 5 17
6.Manchester United 4 4 2 10
7.Internazionale 2 6 3 11
8.Hamburger SV 2 1 1 4
9.Dynamo Kiev 2 2
10.Liverpool 1 3 2 6
11.Benfica 1 2 3
12.Ajax 1 3 4
13.Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 1 2
Dukla Praha 1 1 2
Paris Saint-Germain 1 1 2
16.Blackpool 1 1
Borussia Dortmund 1 1
Dynamo Moskva 1 1
Ferencváros 1 1
Olympique Marseille 1 1
21.Crvena zvezda Beograd 2 1 3
22.Girondins Bordeaux 2 2
23.Atlético Madrid 1 2 3
24.Anderlecht 1 1 2
Arsenal 1 1 2
Cagliari 1 1 2
Chelsea 1 1 2
Verona 1 1 2
29.Rot-Weiss Essen 1 1
West Ham United 1 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 1
32.Stade Reims 2 2
33.Celtic 1 1
Fulham 1 1
1.FC Köln 1 1
Legia Warszawa 1 1
Nancy 1 1
Manchester City 1 1
Newcastle United 1 1
Saint-Etienne 1 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1 1
Vejle 1 1
total 60 62 59 181
NB: there were 3 silver and no bronze medals in 1991
Medals by Country
G S B tot
1.Germany 7 9 11 27
2.France 7 5 10 22
3.Netherlands 7 4 6 17
4.Italy 5 9 4 18
5.England 5 8 4 17
6.Portugal 5 7 1 13
7.Brazil 5 2 3 10
8.Spain 3 4 6 13
9.Argentina 3 3 1 7
10.Soviet Union 3 3
11.Denmark 1 1 2 4
12.Scotland 1 1 1 3
13.Bulgaria 1 1 2
Hungary 1 1 2
Croatia 1 1 2
16.Ukraine 1 2 3
17.Czechoslovakia 1 1 2
Northern Ireland 1 1 2
19.Czech Republic 1 1
Liberia 1 1
21.Yugoslavia 3 1 4
22.Poland 1 2 3
23.Austria 1 1
Senegal 1 1
25.Belgium 1 1
Finland 1 1
Wales 1 1
total 60 62 59 181
NB: there were 3 silver and no bronze medals in 1991
Medals by League
G S B tot
1.Spain 18 18 12 48
2.Italy 18 17 15 50
3.Germany 9 9 8 26
4.England 6 11 10 27
5.Soviet Union 3 3
6.France 2 2 5 9
7.Portugal 1 2 3
8.Netherlands 1 3 4
9.Czechoslovakia 1 1 2
10.Hungary 1 1
11.Yugoslavia 2 1 3
12.Belgium 1 1 2
13.Denmark 1 1
Poland 1 1
Scotland 1 1
total 60 62 59 181
NB: there were 3 silver and no bronze medals in 1991
Medals by Player
G S B tot
1.Cristiano Ronaldo 3 3 1 7
Messi 3 3 1 7
3.Platini 3 2 5
4.Cruijff 3 1 4
5.Van Basten 3 3
6.Beckenbauer 2 2 1 5
7.Ronaldo 2 1 1 4
8.Di Stéfano 2 1 3
Keegan 2 1 3
K.H. Rummenigge 2 1 3
11.Suárez 1 2 1 4
12.B. Charlton 1 2 3
Eusébio 1 2 3
14.Kopa 1 1 2 4
G. Müller 1 1 2 4
16.Zidane 1 1 1 3
17.R. Baggio 1 1 2
Gullit 1 1 2
Matthäus 1 1 2
Rivera 1 1 2
Stoitchkov 1 1 2
22.Shevchenko 1 2 3
23.Best 1 1 2
Ronaldinho 1 1 2
Simonsen 1 1 2
26.Albert 1 1
Belanov 1 1
Benzema 1 1
Blokhin 1 1
Cannavaro 1 1
Figo 1 1
Kaká 1 1
Law 1 1
Masopust 1 1
Matthews 1 1
Modric 1 1
Nedved 1 1
Owen 1 1
Papin 1 1
Rivaldo 1 1
Rossi 1 1
Sammer 1 1
Sivori 1 1
Weah 1 1
Yashin 1 1
46.Schuster 1 2 3
47.Bergkamp 1 1 2
Elkjćr-Larsen 1 1 2
Henry 1 1 2
Rensenbrink 1 1 2
Riva 1 1 2
52.Baresi 1 1
Beckham 1 1
Breitner 1 1
Buffon 1 1
Dalglish 1 1
Deco 1 1
Facchetti 1 1
Futre 1 1
Giresse 1 1
Klinsmann 1 1
Krankl 1 1
Lampard 1 1
Lewandowski 1 1
Lineker 1 1
Mané 1 1
Mazzola 1 1
Mijatovic 1 1
Moore 1 1
Pancev 1 1
Puskás 1 1
Rahn 1 1
Raúl 1 1
Roberto Carlos 1 1
Savicevic 1 1
Schillaci 1 1
Suker 1 1
Tigana 1 1
Van Dijk 1 1
Wright 1 1
Zoff 1 1
82.Butragueńo 2 2
Kahn 2 2
Maldini 2 2
Rijkaard 2 2
Griezmann 2 2
87.Amancio 1 1
Boniek 1 1
Brehme 1 1
Cantona 1 1
Charles 1 1
De Bruyne 1 1
Deyna 1 1
Dzajic 1 1
Fontaine 1 1
Gerrard 1 1
Greaves 1 1
Haynes 1 1
Johnstone 1 1
Jorginho 1 1
Krol 1 1
Litmanen 1 1
Netzer 1 1
Neymar 1 1
Schnellinger 1 1
Seeler 1 1
Shearer 1 1
Torres 1 1
Viktor 1 1
Xavi 1 1
total 60 62 59 181
NB: there were 3 silver and no bronze medals in 1991
Most wins by player:
1. Marco van Basten 3
Johan Cruijff 3
Michel Platini 3
Cristiano Ronaldo 3
Lionel Messi 3
6. Franz Beckenbauer 2
Kevin Keegan 2
Ronaldo 2
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 2
Alfredo di Stéfano 2
Most consecutive wins by player:
1. Michel Platini 3
2. Marco van Basten 2
Johan Cruijff 2
Kevin Keegan 2
Cristiano Ronaldo 2
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 2
Most placings in top-3 by player:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo 7*
Lionel Messi 7*
3. Franz Beckenbauer 5
Michel Platini 5
5. Johan Cruijff 4
Raymond Kopa 4
Gerd Müller 4
Ronaldo 4
Luis Suárez 4
10. Marco van Basten 3
Bobby Charlton 3
Eusébio 3
Kevin Keegan 3
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 3
Bernd Schuster 3
Andriy Shevchenko 3
Alfredo di Stéfano 3
Zinedine Zidane 3
Most consecutive placings in top-3 by player:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo 7
2. Lionel Messi 5
3. Raymond Kopa 4
4. Franz Beckenbauer 3
Bobby Charlton 3
Johan Cruijff 3
Kevin Keegan 3
Michel Platini 3
Ronaldo 3
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 3
Most placings in top-5 by player:
1. Franz Beckenbauer 10
2. Michel Platini 8
Lionel Messi 8*
4. Johan Cruijff 7
Cristiano Ronaldo 7*
6. Eusébio 6
Zinedine Zidane 6
8. Thierry Henry 5
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 5
Luis Suárez 5
Andriy Shevchenko 5
12. Bobby Charlton 4
Kevin Keegan 4
Raymond Kopa 4
Gerd Müller 4
Ronaldo 4
Alfredo di Stéfano 4
Lev Yashin 4
Most consecutive placings in top-5 by player:
1. Franz Beckenbauer 7
Lionel Messi 7
Cristiano Ronaldo 7
4. Eusébio 6
5. Johan Cruijff 5
6. Bobby Charlton 4
Thierry Henry 4
Kevin Keegan 4
Raymond Kopa 4
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 4
Most placings in top-10 by player:
1. Franz Beckenbauer 11
2. Johan Cruijff 9
3. Gerd Müller 8
Michel Platini 8
Lionel Messi 8*
Cristiano Ronaldo 8*
7. Bobby Charlton 7
Eusébio 7
Thierry Henry 7
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 7
Zinedine Zidane 7
12. Jürgen Klinsmann 6
Raúl 6
Gianni Rivera 6
Andriy Shevchenko 6
Luis Suárez 6
Lev Yashin 6
18. Marco van Basten 5
John Charles 5
Raymond Kopa 5
Paolo Maldini 5
Kylian Mbappé 5*
Alfredo di Stéfano 5
24. Franco Baresi 4
Dennis Bergkamp 4
George Best 4
Kevin Keegan 4
Michael Laudrup 4
Robert Lewandowski 4*
Lothar Matthäus 4
Bobby Moore 4
Ferenc Puskás 4
Bryan Robson 4
Ronaldo 4
Frank Rijkaard 4
Mohamed Salah 4*
Bernd Schuster 4
Most consecutive placings in top-10 by player:
1. Franz Beckenbauer 11
2. Johan Cruijff 9
3. Eusébio 7
Thierry Henry 7
Lionel Messi 7
Cristiano Ronaldo 7
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 7
8. Gerd Müller 6
9. Raymond Kopa 5
Raúl 5
11. Bobby Charlton 4
Kevin Keegan 4
Most dominant countries in one season:
Three in top-3:
1. West Germany 1972
West Germany 1981
Netherlands 1988
Four in top-10:
1. Netherlands 1988 (top-5)
2. West Germany 1975 (top-7)
Spain 2008 (top-7)
4. West Germany 1980 (top-8)
Yugoslavia 1991 (top-8)
6. Spain 1961 (top-9)
7. Italy 1965
West Germany 1974
West Germany 1990
Five in top-10:
1. West Germany 1975 (top-8)
2. West Germany 1980
Most dominant clubs in one season:
Three in top-10:
1. Milan 1988 (top-3)
Milan 1989 (top-3)
3. Barcelona 2009 (top-4)
Barcelona 2016 (top-4)
Real Madrid 2002 (top-4)
6. Liverpool 2019 (top-5)
7. Internazionale 1990 (top-6)
Real Madrid 2017 (top-6)
9. Real Madrid 1997 (top-7)
10. Ajax 1995 (top-8)
Barcelona 1992 (top-8)
Crvena zvezda 1991 (top-8)
Honvéd Budapest 1956 (top-8)
Internazionale 1965 (top-8)
Juventus 1992 (top-8)
Real Madrid 1959 (top-8)
Real Madrid 2003 (top-8)
Real Madrid 2022 (top-8)
19. Bayern Munchen 1973 (top-9)
Girondins Bordeaux 1984 (top-9)
Real Madrid 1961 (top-9)
Real Madrid 2016 (top-9)
Milan 2005 (top-9)
24. Borussia Dortmund 1997
Real Madrid 2001
Chelsea 2005
Paris St. Germain 2021
Four in top-10:
1. Barcelona 2009 (top-7)
Milan 1989 (top-7)
Real Madrid 2002 (top-7)
Liverpool 2019 (top-7)
5. Milan 1988 (top-8)
6. Juventus 1982 (top-9)
Real Madrid 2022 (top-9)
8. Real Madrid 2003
Based on France Football’s "Ballon d’Or" rankings: the best placed goalkeeper on that
list becomes the European Goalkeeper of the Year.
Note that the award became official at the 2019 edition.
Note: "POS." refers to the position that the player had on the "Ballon d’Or" ranking.
YEAR GOALKEEPER POS. COUNTRY CLUB
1956 Lev YASHIN (5) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1957 Lev YASHIN (11) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1958 Harry GREGG (8) Northern Ireland Manchester United (Eng)
1959 Lev YASHIN (11) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1960 Lev YASHIN (5) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1961 Lev YASHIN (4) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1962 Viliam SCHROIFF (19) Czechoslovakia Dukla Praha (Cze)
1963 Lev YASHIN (1) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1964 Lev YASHIN (8) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1965 Lev YASHIN (15) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1966 Lev YASHIN (7) Soviet Union Dynamo Moskva (USSR)
1967 no goalkeeper was ranked
1968 no goalkeeper was ranked
1969 Ivo VIKTOR (23) Czechoslovakia Dukla Praha (Cze)
1970 Gordon BANKS (8) England Stoke City (Eng)
1971 Yevgueni RUDAKOV (12) Soviet Union Dynamo Kyiv (USSR)
1972 Gordon BANKS (7) England Stoke City (Eng)
1973 Dino ZOFF (2) Italy Juventus (Ita)
1974 Ronnie HELLSTRÖM (13) Sweden FC Kaiserslautern (FRG)
Jan TOMASZEWSKI (13) Poland LKS Lódz (Pol)
1975 Sepp MAIER (5) West Germany Bayern München (FRG)
1976 Ivo VIKTOR (3) Czechoslovakia Dukla Praha (Cze)
1977 Ronnie HELLSTRÖM (13) Sweden FC Kaiserslautern (FRG)
1978 Ronnie HELLSTRÖM (6) Sweden FC Kaiserslautern (FRG)
1979 Ronnie HELLSTRÖM (27) Sweden FC Kaiserslautern (FRG)
1980 Luis ARCONADA (11) Spain Real Sociedad (Spa)
Dino ZOFF (11) Italy Juventus (Ita)
1981 Dino ZOFF (6) Italy Juventus (Ita)
1982 Rinat DASSAEV (6) Soviet Union Spartak Moskva (USSR)
1983 Rinat DASSAEV (6) Soviet Union Spartak Moskva (USSR)
Jean-Marie PFAFF (6) Belgium Bayern München (FRG)
1984 Harald SCHUMACHER (7) West Germany FC Köln (FRG)
1985 Rinat DASSAEV (9) Soviet Union Spartak Moskva (USSR)
1986 Helmut DUCADAM (8) Romania Steaua Bucuresti (Rom)
1987 Jean-Marie PFAFF (17) Belgium Bayern München (FRG)
1988 Rinat DASSAEV (13) Soviet Union Spartak Moskva (USSR)
1989 Peter SHILTON (5) England Derby County (Eng)
1990 Walter ZENGA (12) Italy Inter Milan (Ita)
1991 Bruno MARTINI (13) France AJ Auxerre (Fra)
1992 Peter SCHMEICHEL (5) Denmark Manchester United (Eng)
1993 Peter SCHMEICHEL (12) Denmark Manchester United (Eng)
1994 Thomas RAVELLI (7) Sweden IFK Göteborg (Swe)
1995 VÍTOR Manuel Martins BAÍA (30) Portugal FC Porto (Por)
1996 Andreas KÖPKE (13) Germany Olympique Marseille (Fra)
1997 Peter SCHMEICHEL (8) Denmark Manchester United (Eng)
1998 Fabien BARTHEZ (14) France AS Monaco (Fra)
1999 Peter SCHMEICHEL (17) Denmark Manchester United (Eng)
2000 Fabien BARTHEZ (12) France Manchester United (Eng)
2001 Oliver KAHN (3) Germany Bayern München (Ger)
2002 Oliver KAHN (3) Germany Bayern München (Ger)
2003 Gianluigi BUFFON (9) Italy Juventus (Ita)
2004 Gianluigi BUFFON (17) Italy Juventus (Ita)
2005 Petr CECH (14) Czech Republic Chelsea (Eng)
2006 Gianluigi BUFFON (2) Italy Juventus (Ita)
2007 Gianluigi BUFFON (19) Italy Juventus (Ita)
Petr CECH (19) Czech Republic Chelsea (Eng)
2008 Iker CASILLAS (4) Spain Real Madrid (Spa)
2009 Iker CASILLAS (16) Spain Real Madrid (Spa)
2010-15 election incorporated into FIFA World Player of the Year
2016 Gianluigi BUFFON (9) Italy Juventus (Ita)
2017 Gianluigi BUFFON (4) Italy Juventus (Ita)
2018 Thibaut COURTOIS (14) Belgium Real Madrid (Spa)
2019 ALISSON Ramses Becker Brazil Liverpool (Eng)
2020 not awarded
2021 Gianluigi DONNARUMMA (10) Italy Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
2022 Thibaut COURTOIS ( 7) Belgium Real Madrid (Spa)
Sources: [Ham -], [Oli 95], [gaz].
Keeper ranking thanks to José Luis Pierrend; additional data thanks to Peter Young; thanks to Hans-Peter Junkermann for spotting an error in the records section
Prepared and maintained by Roberto Di Maggio, Rob Moore and Karel Stokkermans for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Authors: Roberto Di Maggio, Rob Moore and Karel Stokkermans
Last updated: 16 Nov 2022
(C) Copyright Roberto Di Maggio, Rob Moore,
Karel Stokkermans and RSSSF 1995/2022
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the authors. All rights reserved.