Ballon d’Or 2026: The five most historic winners – from Matthews to Messi
The 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on Monday night at a glittering ceremony in London. The 70th staging of the event will be the first to be held outside France, with it moving to England as a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first ever Ballon d'Or in 1956. Below, we pick out five of the most historically significant Ballon d'Or victories and list every winner, going back…
The 70th Ballon d'Or, set to take place in London, marks a historic first as it is held outside of France, in honor of Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner in 1956 at the age of 41. This milestone comes after the rules were amended to include non-European players representing European clubs. Here are five of the most significant Ballon d'Or victories in history:
1. Stanley Matthews (1956) - The inaugural winner, at a remarkable age of 41, established the tournament's reputation.
2. George Weah (1995) - First African winner, a pivotal moment for football's global reach.
3. Ronaldo (1997) - The youngest winner at 21, a record still unbroken, and one of the greatest forwards of all time.
4. Fabio Cannavaro (2006) - Recognized for his leadership during Italy's World Cup win, the last defender to secure the title.
5. Lionel Messi (2009) - The first of his eight-record-breaking victories, with his recent triumph in 2023, marked by an impressive 38 goals and 19 assists in a single season.
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