The Ballon d’Or is the highest individual award in football. It is given to the best male player in the world each year.
Winning this award is a sign of a player’s greatness. Over the past decade, the award has been won by some of the most famous players.
The period from 2015 to 2025 has been a very interesting time for the award. It has shown the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
This list of winners shows the very best players in the world. It reminds us of their greatest moments on the field. Below are the Men’s Ballon d’Or winners from the last 10 years.
2025: Ousmane Dembele
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 Ballon d’Or after a very fantastic season. He led his club, Paris Saint-Germain, to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. He also helped them win the French domestic league. His win was a big surprise to many people.
Dembele had a great season, scoring 37 goals and providing 15 assists. He had a career-defining year after being moved to a new position. His high number of goals and assists was a major reason for his win. He was a key player for his club.
His win marks a big moment in football history. It is the end of an era. Dembele becomes the sixth French player to win the award.
2024: Rodri
Club: Manchester City
Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or after a great season with Manchester City. He was the main reason for his team’s success in the league. His win was the first for a Spanish player in many years.
Rodri was a top player in the middle of the field. He was the engine of his team. His passing, tackling, and ability to control the game were key to his team’s success. He also scored some very important goals.
His win shows that a player does not have to be a goal scorer to win the award. It showed that the award is also for players who control the game. His win was a surprise to many people, but it was well deserved.
2023: Lionel Messi
Club: Inter Miami
Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023. He won the award after a record-breaking season. His win was for his performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Messi led Argentina to their first World Cup title in many years. He was the best player in the tournament. He scored seven goals and had three assists. His performance in the final was one of the greatest ever.
His win in 2023 was a very emotional one. He finally won the World Cup, the only major trophy he had not won. Messi is now the only player to have won the Ballon d’Or eight times.
2022: Karim Benzema
Club: Real Madrid
Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d’Or after a fantastic season with Real Madrid. He led his team to a Champions League and La Liga title. He was a very important player for his team.
Benzema was a goal-scoring machine. He scored 44 goals and had a number of assists in a single season. He was the top scorer in both the Champions League and La Liga. His goals were key to his team’s success.
Benzema’s win was a long time coming. He had been a top player for many years. But this was the year he proved he was the best in the world. He was a clear winner of the award.
2021: Lionel Messi
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi won his seventh Ballon d’Or in 2021. This was his first major win since leaving Barcelona. He won the award for his role in Argentina’s Copa America title.
Messi was the best player at the Copa America. He was the top scorer and the top player of the tournament. He led his country to their first major trophy in many years.
His win was a major one for him and his country. It showed that he was still a top player. It also showed that the award is for players who win big trophies for their country.
2020: Not Awarded
The Ballon d’Or was not given out in 2020. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many leagues were stopped or changed. It was a very difficult time for football.
The organizers of the award decided not to give it out. They said the conditions were not fair for all players. This was the first time the award was not given out since 1956.
It was a tough decision. Many people felt that Robert Lewandowski should have won the award. But the organizers decided to wait until next year to give the award.
2019: Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona
Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon d’Or in 2019. This made him the player with the most wins in history at that time. He was a very important player for his club and country.
Messi had a very good season. He was the top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League. He was a key player for his team. He also had a high number of assists.
His win showed that he was still the best player in the world. He beat his rivals to the award.
2018: Luka Modric
Club: Real Madrid
Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or. This was a very special win because he was the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the award in 10 years.
Modric had a fantastic year. He won the Champions League with his club, Real Madrid. He also led his country, Croatia, to the FIFA World Cup final. This was the first time in their history.
His win was a great moment for the entire football history because it showed that the award is not just for goal scorers. It also showed that a midfielder could win the award.
2017: Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d’Or in 2017. He was a very important player for his team, Real Madrid in that year. He helped them to win both the Champions League and La Liga.
Ronaldo was the top scorer in the Champions League. He scored a lot of important goals in the knockout stages. His goals helped his team to win the trophy.
His win made him equal to Messi with five Ballon d’Or awards. This made the rivalry between the two players even more exciting.
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d’Or in 2016. It was a fantastic year for him. He won a major trophy with both his club and his country.
Ronaldo won the Champions League with Real Madrid. He also led his country, Portugal, to their first European Championship title. This was a huge win for his country.
His win in 2016 was a sign of his hard work. He had a great year with his club and his country.
2015: Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona
Lionel Messi won his fifth Ballon d’Or in 2015. He had a great season with his club, Barcelona that year. He led them to a historic treble, winning the Champions League, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey.
Messi was a very important player in the team. He scored many goals and had a lot of assists. He was a key player in all of the team’s wins.
His win showed his amazing talent. He was the main reason for his team’s success in the season.
