Frank Christian
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s prolific striker, aimed for the 2023 Ballon d’Or following his stellar goal-scoring performances since joining the club in 2022. Despite his efforts, Lionel Messi clinched the award, leaving the Premier League waiting for its next winner.
After securing his second consecutive Premier League title and Golden Boot, Haaland is back in the running for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with Messi not in the list of nominees.
Let’s explore the history of Premier League players who have won the Ballon d’Or and delve into the details of the prestigious award.
The Last Premier League Player to Win the Ballon d’Or
In 2022, Karim Benzema claimed the award, breaking the dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo, during his Manchester United tenure in 2008, remains the most recent Premier League-based player to have won the Ballon d’Or.
Other Premier League contenders like Kevin De Bruyne and Jorginho have come close but fell short in recent years. Haaland’s second-place finish in the 2023 vote keeps hope alive for a Premier League triumph.
During the early years, players from English clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool made their mark in the Ballon d’Or history through legends such as George Best, Bobby Charlton, and Michael Owen.
Who Votes for the Ballon d’Or?
The Ballon d’Or winner is chosen through the votes of 100 journalists representing the top FIFA nations. They are tasked with ranking the shortlisted players, with individual performance given more weight than team achievements.
Should a tie occur, the player with the most first-place votes takes the prize.
Favorites for the 2024 Ballon d’Or
Haaland of Manchester City is a strong contender once more, while teammate Rodri stands as the top Premier League candidate for the award. English talents like Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are also making a case for themselves.
Previous Ballon d’Or Winners
The history of the Ballon d’Or is rich with iconic players like Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini, who made their mark by winning the award multiple times. Noteworthy recent winners include Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
Football Ballon d’Or Winners Over the Years
The Ballon d’Or award has been a prestigious honor in the world of football for decades. Let’s take a look at some of the past winners:
– 1983: Michel Platini (Juventus)
– 1984: Michel Platini (Juventus)
– 1985: Michel Platini (Juventus)
– 1986: Igor Belanov (Dynamo Kyiv)
– 1987: Ruud Gullit (AC Milan)
– 1988: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)
– 1989: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)
– 1990: Lothar Matthaus (Inter Milan)
– 1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille)
– 1992: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)
– 1993: Roberto Baggio (Juventus)
– 1994: Hristo Stoichkov (Barcelona)
– 1995: George Weah (AC Milan)
– 1996: Mathias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund)
– 1997: Ronaldo (Inter Milan)
– 1998: Zinedine Zidane (Juventus)
– 1999: Rivaldo (Barcelona)
– 2000: Luis Figo (Real Madrid)
– 2001: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
– 2002: Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
– 2003: Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
– 2004: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)
– 2005: Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
– 2006: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
– 2007: Kaka (AC Milan)
– 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
– 2009: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
– 2010: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
– 2011: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
– 2012: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
– 2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
– 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
– 2015: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
– 2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
– 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
– 2018: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
– 2019: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
– 2020: Cancelled due to pandemic
– 2021: Lionel Messi (PSG)
– 2022: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
– 2023: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
The list shows the exceptional talent and skill that has graced the football world over the years. Each winner has left a lasting legacy in the sport.
