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Ballon d'Or Winners

Name the players who have finished in the top three for the Ballon d'Or award as the year's best players.
Since 1992
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: October 29, 2024
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First submittedJanuary 9, 2013
Times taken251,205
Average score45.3%
Rating4.39
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Year
Winner
2nd
3rd
2024
Rodri
Vinícius Júnior
Jude Bellingham
2023
Lionel Messi
Erling Haaland
Kylian Mbappé
2022
Karim Benzema
Sadio Mané
Kevin De Bruyne
2021
Lionel Messi
Robert Lewandowski
Jorginho
 
 
 
 
2019
Lionel Messi
Virgil van Dijk
Cristiano Ronaldo
2018
Luka Modrić
Cristiano Ronaldo
Antoine Griezmann
2017
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
Neymar
2016
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
Antoine Griezmann
2015
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Neymar
2014
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
Manuel Neuer
2013
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
Franck Ribéry
2012
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Andrés Iniesta
2011
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Xavi
2010
Lionel Messi
Andrés Iniesta
Xavi
2009
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Xavi
2008
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
Fernando Torres
2007
Kaká
Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi
2006
Fabio Cannavaro
Gianluigi Buffon
Thierry Henry
2005
Ronaldinho
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
2004
Andriy Shevchenko
Deco
Ronaldinho
2003
Pavel Nedvěd
Thierry Henry
Paolo Maldini
2002
Ronaldo
Roberto Carlos
Oliver Kahn
2001
Michael Owen
Raúl
Oliver Kahn
2000
Luís Figo
Zinedine Zidane
Andriy Shevchenko
1999
Rivaldo
David Beckham
Andriy Shevchenko
1998
Zinedine Zidane
Davor Šuker
Ronaldo
1997
Ronaldo
Predrag Mijatović
Zinedine Zidane
1996
Matthias Sammer
Ronaldo
Alan Shearer
1995
George Weah
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jari Litmanen
1994
Hristo Stoichkov
Roberto Baggio
Paolo Maldini
1993
Roberto Baggio
Dennis Bergkamp
Eric Cantona
1992
Marco van Basten
Hristo Stoichkov
Dennis Bergkamp
93 Comments
+10
Level 39
Jan 14, 2014
Ronaldo and Messi. Pretty much sums up what I know of FIFA.
+10
Level 26
Aug 16, 2014
You mean CRISTIANO Ronaldo
+29
Level 74
Jan 12, 2017
I second that, the newer generation may not know about that, but what I like to call the "true" Ronaldo was a legend among men in its time.
+8
Level 79
Jan 13, 2015
Seems that the "Player of the Year" voters don't know anything else about FIFA, either.
+5
Level 40
Jan 13, 2015
How could less people get Cristiano Ronaldo than Ronaldo??
+2
Level 95
Jan 12, 2016
They appear to have the same percentage right now.
+1
Level 73
Aug 9, 2016
Great quiz. Could probably have got a few more bit of extra time.
+2
Level 23
Dec 29, 2016
Man, i did Zinedine instead of Zidane, i feel so stupid.
+7
Level 74
Jan 12, 2017
Don't feel like that, Zinedine is quite an uncommon first name and it's more impressive to know it than its last name if you're not from France or Spain.
+2
Level 64
Jan 5, 2017
Cristiano Ronaldo should be on for 2016 winner
+2
Level 11
May 1, 2017
HOW DID NEUER COME (GOALKEEPER)
+1
Level 79
Jul 20, 2017
Or Oliver Khan...
+11
Level 40
Sep 7, 2017
Amazing goalkeepers.
+1
Level 55
May 29, 2022
he was part of a world cup winning side that destroyed brazil 7-1 for cryin out loud and got to the semis of the ucl too
+11
Level 40
Sep 7, 2017
Sneijder got robbed 2010
+19
Level 69
Jan 30, 2019
and robben got sneijdered
+1
Level 78
Jan 31, 2019
XD
+2
Level 34
Dec 21, 2017
Please add 2017 winners (Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar)
+3
Level ∞
Dec 21, 2017
Done
+3
Level 67
Dec 5, 2018
Please update for 2018. Thanks!
+1
Level ∞
Dec 6, 2018
Done. Can't believe someone not named Ronaldo or Messi actually won.
+6
Level 70
Dec 6, 2018
I still don't think Modric was the best this year
+1
Level 26
Nov 30, 2023
He had a good 2018 world cup with Croatia
+7
Level 74
Dec 7, 2018
It was more a honoring of his career, than of this particular year. Still good, that no Ronaldos or Messis won.
+3
Level 91
Dec 6, 2018
Never heard of it. Prize for balls of gold?
+4
Level 65
Jan 30, 2019
this quiz has something to do with soccer?
+4
Level 69
Jan 30, 2019
can't believe zlatan isn't on here

and somehow sammer is, bleedin' disgrace that is.

+6
Level 81
Jan 31, 2019
Would just like to point out that gold is an incredibly silly material to make balloons out of.
+1
Level 91
Apr 15, 2019
Oars made of balloons don't dip down in the water easily.
+4
Level 71
Dec 3, 2019
I was shocked to not see Romario on here, only to discover that the Ballon d'Or was limited to European players until 1995.
+4
Level 57
Dec 5, 2019
I clicked on this quiz just to find out what the Ballon d'Or was.
+1
Level 35
Jul 15, 2021
2021 nominees

*Messi

*Lewandowski

*Kante

*Jorginho

*Kane

*Lukaku

*C.Ronaldo

+2
Level 26
Dec 9, 2023
and somehow Messi wins it instead of Lewandowski
+1
Level 50
Oct 1, 2021
Okay, I said "Hernandez," can this be fixed so this would mark "Xavi Hernandez?" Thanks
+1
Level ∞
Dec 1, 2021
Yes
+6
Level 73
Dec 4, 2021
Weah, Eto’o, Kanu, Toure, Drogba, Salah, Mané, Gyan, Ikpeba, Diouf, Diop, , Essien, Yeboah, Finidi (and as an Arsenal fan I’m loathe to say this, but) Adebayor. Only one of these makes the podium in 30 years? I wonder why that could be?
+6
Level 79
Dec 4, 2021
You think that Gyan should be there? Over the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta, Ribéry...?
+2
Level 78
Jan 5, 2024
Cause as good as they were, mostly they weren't as good as the ones on the very top. But go ahead and keep believing every time a person of color is not praised and put on a pedestal it's because of racism.
+6
Level 87
Dec 4, 2021
No Robbens, Van Persie, or Sneijder? That generation of Dutch players should have at least one first, second or third
+11
Level 70
Dec 4, 2021
corrupt fifa, Lewandowski should have received it in 2021.
+2
Level 54
Dec 5, 2021
Agree completely.
+4
Level 44
Dec 6, 2021
To be fair, I think they've got the winner right almost all of the time, even if they've made some odd calls for the lower placings.

Not the last two years though. Lewandowski has been better than anyone, even with Messi winning the Copa, for the last two seasons. Creating a new category: Best Striker, really smacks of an organisation scrambling to make up for glaring mistakes.

For once, I don't think FIFA corruption can be blamed. Both the vote and the ceremony take place at the wrong time. This might explain how Jorginho got 3rd and why Salah was actually lucky to get 6th in 2021 despite being the best in the world at the time of the ceremony. However, Salah must be the favourite to win in 2022, even if his current terrific form deserts him later on.

+3
Level 45
May 31, 2022
No, they don't always get the winner right. However, Messi did deserve the Ballon d'or in both 2019 and 2021. If the Ballon d'Or was given to the best performer each year then Messi would probably have 1-2 more Ballon d'Ors
+2
Level 44
Dec 6, 2021
Secondly, some voters have had their bias, or idiocy, exposed. Messi and Ronaldo famously refuse to vote for each other. Apparently, many Portuguese and Argentine, Real Madrid and Barcelona voters do the same. Roy Hodgson voted Mascherano the best player in the world in 2014, perhaps explaining why he was such a failure as England manager. I even remember Paulo Wanchope(!) getting votes one year. Paulo Wanchope...

First place has gone to the correct player almost every year. Maybe, maaaaybe, Beckham should have won in 1999, and I remember people complaining that Figo won when Romario had scored more goals than the rest of the world combined, but was Romario even eligible? Then Modric: great player, but did he have the personal stats to win?

+1
Level 79
Nov 22, 2022
re Modric: if this was about stats, then Gomez and Falcao should have been there over Iniesta.
+7
Level 57
Dec 6, 2021
Can you accept Lewangoalski
+2
Level 60
Aug 6, 2023
I would prefer to call him Cryngoatski.
+2
Level 56
Dec 6, 2021
I came here just to put Ronaldo and Messi lol
+2
Level 35
Jan 16, 2022
Jorginho deserved to be the champion because he won the UCL,UEFA Super cup and EURO 2020
+10
Level 35
Mar 20, 2022
it's an individual award, not collective
+1
Level 68
Nov 25, 2022
Those are all titles that teams win, not singular players.
+3
Level 58
Aug 28, 2022
Jorginho didn't get near deserving the third place for ballon d'or.
+2
Level 50
Oct 17, 2022
Time to add mr Karim bezema
+1
Level 40
Nov 15, 2022
Please update
+1
Level 80
Nov 17, 2022
Karim Benzema should be added
+4
Level 76
Nov 22, 2022
We need more love for the defense and goalies.
+2
Level 68
Oct 30, 2023
Lionel Messi has won the 2023 Ballon D'or! 8 times!
+4
Level 75
Nov 2, 2023
absolutely scandalous... Shame on Fifa
+2
Level 78
Jan 5, 2024
Yes, his performance during the WC was indeed scandalous, and well deserving of the Ballon.

Oh wait, are you one of those people who are suddenly now minimizing the importance of the WC to suit your prejudiced narrative?

+1
Level 45
Feb 14, 2025
if you had actually watched football that year you'd know haaland was better
+2
Level 77
Oct 30, 2023
2023 updates: Messi, Haaland, Mbappé.
+9
Level 67
Oct 31, 2023
Haaland robbed in 2023

Lewa robbed in 2021

Van Dijk robbed in 2019

+3
Level 74
Oct 31, 2023
You forgot:

- Xavi robbed in 2012

- Sneijder/Iniesta robbed in 2010

+1
Level 64
Oct 31, 2023
Xavi robbed in 2012? Why? He did nothing better than Messi - 2012 is perhaps Messi's best year.

Van Dijk robbed in 2019?

Lewa deserved 2020, not 2021 - Haaland is the best goal scorer, not the best player. 90% of his goals are tap-ins.

+3
Level 74
Nov 1, 2023
Ever heard of something called UEFA Euro 2012, where Xavi was decisive in Spain's victory and the Tournament's Best Player???? Messi just scored a lot of goals, but this should not be the Ballon d'Or only criterion!

And by the way, there are at least four players (including Lewa, Kanté and Jorginho) who deserved 2021 BO more than Messi, who was already ejected from Champions League with Barcelona at the round of 16...

You probably don't consider van Dijk to be a legitimate contender for BO, just because he's a defender and doesn't score goals, but that would be a completely wrong approach for voting.

+3
Level 67
Nov 1, 2023
In what world is the best goalscorer not the best player- you need to score goals to win games, and Haaland was the top scorer in FA cup, Champions League and Premier league. If we're talking individual performances of the 22/23 season, Haaland is far clear. Messi had an amazing World Cup but that was only 4 weeks in December. Haaland was consistently scoring the whole season, and was the main reason why Man City won the treble. The Ballon D'or is supposed to be given to the best player of the previous season, and is just a popularity contest now, which is why Messi won it.
+3
Level 74
Nov 3, 2023
@urmom321

If this is your true opinion, then you don't understand ANYTHING about football! You are one of those people who only look at the scoreboard and the name of the goalscorers, but never bother to actually watch a game or how the goals even took place. Do you happen to know that football is a collective sport and that it is impossible for for-wards to score goals without the help of their defenders and central midfielders?

So what if Haaland scored the most goals last season???? He's a centre forward, it's his job and his position on the pitch allows him to do so! What about de Bruyne and Rodri (elected best player of the CL btw) e.g., who were more decisive to City's victory than Haaland?

Oh and one last thing! Please remind me how many goals Haaland scored in CL final and semi-final last season?

+3
Level 27
Nov 7, 2023
0 ball knowledge
+2
Level 67
Nov 7, 2023
I agree that Rodri and De Bruyne were way more important to City's win last season, but since this award only looks at stats and trophies, Messi and Haaland were the only real contenders to win it. Also, just because Haaland didn't score in the final doesn't mean he didn't help his team to win it. You forgot that drawing away defenders is a main part of his game. If you watched that final, you would see that 4 inter defenders were marking him, leaving the space for Rodri. Please, go watch football before you make stupid comments. There is not a good argument for Messi winning the ballon d'or over Haaland and people are blinded by the fact that his name is Messi. If it was anyone else, Haaland would've won.
+2
Level 74
Nov 15, 2023
FYI my "stupid comment" never implied in any way that Messi deserved to win, as he was non-existent after WC 2022. No doubt Haland deserved it much more.

My point was that this trophy is not only a popularity contest, as you said, but also gives way too much credit to offensive players performances, despite defensive players being as much important for the game. As simple as that...!

+1
Level 78
Jan 5, 2024
How people love to crap on their idols. I can already see a few years from now people saying Messi is overrated and not that good. Clueless.
+2
Level 65
Nov 12, 2023
Jorginho..... oh dear
+1
Level 27
Mar 29, 2024
I wrote Hristo Stoitchkov, thought I wrote it wrong, tried only his surname and both of them didn't work, searched on google, copied and paste it and it was also wrong : how is it possible ?..
+1
Level 86
Oct 30, 2024
You have too many T's in his last name.
+3
Level 15
Oct 18, 2024
I cant wait for Vini Jr to be on this list💯
+7
Level 39
Oct 28, 2024
💀 Rodri won
+2
Level 87
Oct 29, 2024
You'll need to keep waiting :)
+5
Level 39
Oct 28, 2024
Rodri has won the 2024 Ballon D’or now UPDATE
+2
Level 79
Oct 29, 2024
Remember, kids, this award is voted on by members of the press. Therefore, the placements are always more of a popularity contest than a reflection of player achievement.
+1
Level 82
Nov 4, 2024
Been known this since Jorginho somehow finished third 💀
+3
Level 67
Oct 29, 2024
People saying Vinicius robbed have zero ball knowledge.
+2
Level 74
Oct 29, 2024
I absolutely hate the expression « 0 ball knowledge », especially if it’s on subjective individual matters like the BO. At last, I am glad that Rodri won, he absolutely deserved it, unlike the last 3 given to Messi, which were indeed robbed!
+5
Level 71
Oct 30, 2024
I'm mostly happy Vinicius, and Real Madrid, lost. Seeing them throw their ridiculous temper tantrum and refusing to even come to the ceremony is just such a good representation of who they are. I've rarely seen a more dickish and unfair player than Vinicius on the field. I don't care at all about the Ballon d'Or, but since he clearly really really does, may he lose it every year!
+1
Level 67
Oct 30, 2024
agreed
+3
Level 93
Oct 30, 2024
Dickish and unfair player? Not going along with the bandwagon are we? Right wing and nationalist press has been hammering him for daring to point out that there are still lots of racists in Spanish football crowds. He is an amazing player
+1
Level 67
Oct 31, 2024
doesn't take away from the fact that he consistently dives and crys all the time on the pitch. Maybe if he humbled up a bit and let his football do the talking he would be more respected.
+2
Level 82
Nov 4, 2024
There is something in common with 99% of people who think Vinicius Jr. Didn't deserve to win but I can't put my finger on it 🤔
+1
Level 71
Nov 5, 2024
Put him on a quiz of Ballon d'Or Whiners.
+4
Level 60
Oct 30, 2024
Send this quiz to Vini J, I'm sure he'll handle it well
+2
Level 82
Nov 4, 2024
I will die on the hill that racism was the reason that Vinicius Jr. did not win the Ballon d'Or this year. Whatever, the award lost all credibility for me years ago.
+2
Level 71
Nov 5, 2024
Maybe that's the reason he didn't win. But the reason he deserved not to win is the way he behaves on the pitch. I have rarely seen such an unfair player.
+2
Level 67
Nov 10, 2024
While there is a lot of racism prevalent in today's game, this is definitely not the reason Vini didn't win it. The 3rd criteria for winning the award is clearly stated as the player must exhibit class and fair play. Since the first two criteria are very close between Rodri and Vini, this is clearly what caused him to lose the award. You can't watch even one half of Vini without seeing him dive or argue with other players/the ref. Also, I will add that while racism might be bad now, it was much worse 20-30 years ago. If racism impacts the award like you say it does, we wouldn't have seen the likes of Ronaldinho, R9, George Weah, etc. winning it. So stop acting like its racism and just admit that Vini is an unfair player and has no class on the pitch, which is what ultimately caused him to lose the award.
+1
Level 45
Feb 14, 2025
well said