From 1956 to 2024: Full list of Ballon d'Or award winners in men's football

Rodri becomes the first Premier League player to receive the Ballon d'Or since Ronaldo did so in 2008 while at Manchester United. Lionel Messi has won Ballon d'Or award for the most time, i.e. eight.

Manchester City's Rodri became the first Spanish footballer since 1960 to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in men's football on Monday. With this win, 28-year-old Rodri becomes the first Premier League player to receive the Ballon d'Or since Cristiano Ronaldo did so in 2008 while at Manchester United.

 

Rodri helped Manchester City win the Premier League title for the fourth consecutive time.

 

Rodri also played a crucial role for the Spanish national team, contributing to their victory at the 2024 Euros in Germany, where they defeated England 2-1 in July. He was named Player of the Tournament.

 

 

The 28-year-old defensive midfielder was instrumental throughout last season, providing defensive stability as well as key passes for both his club and country, totalling 14 assists in all competitions.  Vincius Jnior was among the four men's finalists with his Real Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal. But no one from Madrid attended the gala in central Paris, even though Carlo Ancelotti won the coach of the year award. 

Vincius finished second in the voting, with Bellingham third.

Neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo winners of the prestigious individual award a combined 13 times were in the running for this year's prize the first time that's happened since 2003.

While Rodri is not a flamboyant player or a prolific scorer like Messi and Ronaldo, he had a huge influence on City's team with his ability to protect the defense and distribute passes cleanly from the back.

"I try to be a leader and try to improve every day from the best," Rodri said.

 

Additionally, Rodri scored 10 goals during the 2023-24 season.  

Rodri's crowning moment! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/fklfcJJLUS

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 28, 2024

Rodri, it's all yours! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/OeyieiRQYe

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024

Press conference time for Rodri! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/G6OF8gggJ2

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024

 

    Ballon d'Or 2024 Award controversy  The Ballon d’Or 2024 award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris faced controversy as Real Madrid boycotted the event. The world-renowned football club’s decision was reportedly sparked by the revelation that their star winger, Vinicius Junior, would not win the prestigious award, despite his standout performances in both the La Liga and Champions League, where he played a crucial role.  Real Madrid's Protest on Men's Ballon d'Or Award winner  Although the Ballon d’Or organisers maintained that the winner’s identity was confidential, social media buzzed with reports hours before the ceremony suggesting that Vinicius would miss out on the honour.  In response, Real Madrid announced that its delegation would skip the event, viewing the situation as a disregard for the Brazilian forward’s contributions.  Following the announcement of the Ballon d’Or 2024 winner, Rodri, the award recipient, commented diplomatically on Real Madrid’s absence. “They have their reasons and made their decision not to attend,” he remarked during the post-award press conference. “I just focus on my club and my teammates.”  Women's Ballon d'Or 2024 award winner  26-year-old Aitana Bonmat retained her award after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League. Bonmat joined Barca teammate Alexia Putellas in winning two titles since the women's trophy was first awarded in 2018.  She beat her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway and Salma Paralluelo of Spain as Barcelona completed a 1-2-3.  "It's a pleasure to be here again," said Bonmat, who received the award from Oscar winner Natalie Portman. "Thanks to my teammates and the clubs who make me a better football player every year." Bonmat scored 19 goals for the second straight season for Barca and this year has netted five in five games for Spain, taking her international tally to 26. 

Who won the most Ballon d'Or awards in football history?

 

Football legend Lionel Messi has won Ballon d'Or award for the most time, i.e. eight. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the prestigious best footballer award for five times. 

Yamal's trophy and other awards

 

On a good night for Spain and Barca players, teen prodigy Lamine Yamal the youngest-ever scorer at a European Championship won the Kopa award for best Under-21 player and Barca won the best women's team award.

 

Real Madrid was voted the best men's team.

 

Former PSG forward Kylian Mbapp and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane shared the Gerd Mueller award for most club and country goals last season with 52. Mbapp joined Madrid during the off-season.

 

Argentina's penalty-saving specialist Emiliano Martnez retained the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper.

 

Ancelotti and Olympic-winning coach Emma Hayes won the Johan Cruyff award for best men's and women's coach.

 

Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, who has fought sexism in Spanish soccer after she was kissed on the lips at last year's Women's World Cup final by former federation president Luis Rubiales, collected the Socrates award for humanitarian work.

  A special award was given by France Football to the wife and son of late Germany great Franz Beckenbauer.   

Complete list of award winners during Ballon D'Or 2024 Awards ceremony

• Men's Ballon d'Or: Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
• Women's Ballon d'Or: Aitana Bonmati (Spain, FC Barcelona)
• Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Spain, FC Barcelona)
• Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
• Men's Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid)
• Women's Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes (England, Chelsea/USA)
• Men's Club of the Year: Real Madrid
• Women's Club of the Year: FC Barcelona
• Gerd Muller Trophy: Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich); Kylian Mbappe (France, Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid)
• Socrates Award: Jenni Hermoso (Spain, Tigres UANL) 

 

Full list of Ballon d'Or Award winners

 

Ballon d'Or winners full list
year	player	Nationality	Club
2024	Rodri	Spain	Manchester City
2023	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Inter Miami
2022	Karim Benzema	France	Real Madrid
2021	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
2020	not awarded	-	-
2019	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2018	Luka Modric	Croatia	Real Madrid
2017	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2016	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2015	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2014	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2013	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Real Madrid
2012	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2011	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2010	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2009	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Barcelona
2008	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Manchester United
2007	Kaka	Brazil	Milan
2006	Fabio Cannavaro	Italy	Real Madrid
2005	Ronaldinho	Brazil	Barcelona
2004	Andriy Shevchenko	Ukraine	Milan
2003	Pavel Nedved	Czechia	Juventus
2002	Ronaldo	Brazil	Real Madrid
2001	Michael Owen	England	Liverpool
2000	Luis Figo	Portugal	Real Madrid
1999	Rivaldo	Brazil	Barcelona
1998	Zinedine Zidane	France	Juventus
1997	Ronaldo	Brazil	Internazionale
1996	Matthias Sammer	Germany	Borussia Dortmund
1995	George Weah	Liberia	Milan
1994	Hristo Stoichkov	Bulgaria	Barcelona
1993	Roberto Baggio	Italy	Juventus
1992	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Milan
1991	Jean-Pierre Papin	France	Marseille
1990	Lothar Matthaus	Germany	Internazionale
1989	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Milan
1988	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Milan
1987	Ruud Gullit	Netherlands	Milan
1986	Igor Belanov	Soviet Union	Dynamo Kyiv
1985	Michel Platini	France	Juventus
1984	Michel Platini	France	Juventus
1983	Michel Platini	France	Juventus
1982	Paolo Rossi	Italy	Juventus
1981	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1980	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1979	Kevin Keegan	England	Hamburg
1978	Kevin Keegan	England	Hamburg
1977	Allan Simonsen	Denmark	Borussia Monchengladbach
1976	Franz Beckenbauer	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1975	Oleg Blokhin	Soviet Union	Dynamo Kyiv
1974	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Barcelona
1973	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Barcelona
1972	Franz Beckenbauer	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1971	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Ajax
1970	Gerd Muller	West Germany	Bayern Munich
1969	Gianni Rivera	Italy	Milan
1968	George Best	Northern Ireland	Manchester United
1967	Florian Albert	Hungary	Ferencv rosi TC
1966	Bobby Charlton	England	Manchester United
1965	Eusebio	Portugal	Benfica
1964	Denis Law	Scotland	Manchester United
1963	Lev Yashin	Soviet Union	Dynamo Moscow
1962	Josef Masopust	Czechoslovakia	Dukla Prague
1961	Omar Sívori	Italy	Juventus
1960	Luis Suarez	Spain	Barcelona
1959	Alfredo Di Stefano	Argentina / Spain	Real Madrid
1958	Raymond Kopa	France	Real Madrid
1957	Alfredo Di Stefano	Argentina / Spain	Real Madrid
1956	Stanley Matthews	England	Blackpool