The Ballon d’Or has long been regarded as football’s most prestigious individual honor. While footballing excellence is at its core, other factors like team success, political narratives, and even the storylines of players’ careers can sometimes influence the outcome. As the world gears up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, it’s the perfect time to revisit each winner from 2008 to 2024, cutting through the noise to determine if the right player actually won. Here’s our breakdown:
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Our Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo)
No controversy here. Cristiano Ronaldo had an exceptional year in 2008, scoring 42 goals in all competitions, leading Manchester United to the Premier League and Champions League titles. It was a clear, deserving win for Ronaldo, who was the standout performer in a dominant team.
2009 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Lionel Messi)
Another easy call. Lionel Messi was pivotal in Barcelona’s historic treble-winning season. With Messi at the helm, Barcelona’s attacking style was simply unstoppable. He won the Ballon d’Or by a record margin, and it was well deserved.
2010 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Lionel Messi)
This year sparked the most debate. Wesley Sneijder had a stellar season, leading Inter Milan to a treble and reaching the World Cup final with the Netherlands, but Messi’s individual brilliance—47 goals—was still enough to secure the Ballon d’Or. Sneijder deserved recognition, but Messi was clearly the best player in the world that year.
2011 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Lionel Messi)
No debate here either. Messi was the best player in the world, scoring 53 goals and dominating for a Barcelona side considered by many to be the best ever. Sir Alex Ferguson even called them the best team he had ever faced.
2012 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Lionel Messi)
Messi shattered records in 2012, scoring an unbelievable 91 goals in a calendar year. This performance is often regarded as the greatest single season by any player in football history. No one was close to his level in 2012.
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Our Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo)
Ronaldo had an outstanding year, scoring 59 goals for Real Madrid, while Franck Ribéry led Bayern Munich to a treble. While Ribéry’s contributions were massive, Ronaldo’s individual brilliance carried his team and put him in a league of his own. He deserved the Ballon d’Or in 2013.
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Our Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo)
Real Madrid won La Décima (their 10th Champions League), and Ronaldo was instrumental in their success, scoring a record 17 goals in a single Champions League campaign. Euro 2016 was a fantastic achievement for Portugal, but Ronaldo’s individual brilliance in 2014 was undeniable.
2015 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Lionel Messi)
Barcelona’s MSN trio—Messi, Suárez, and Neymar—ran riot, and Messi once again showed why he was the best player in the world, leading Barcelona to another treble. There was no doubt he deserved the Ballon d’Or.
2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Our Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo)
Ronaldo led Real Madrid to another Champions League title and Portugal to an EURO 2016 victory, proving that his leadership was crucial for both club and country. This year marked a defining moment in his career, making him the clear winner of the Ballon d’Or.
2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Our Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo)
Another year of dominance for Ronaldo. He helped Real Madrid to a back-to-back Champions League title and continued his goal-scoring feats, adding 42 goals in all competitions. Ronaldo’s performances were unassailable, cementing his place as the world’s best player.
2018 – Luka Modric (Our Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo)
This is where we diverge. Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 after leading Croatia to the World Cup final and helping Real Madrid to another Champions League. However, Ronaldo scored 44 goals in 2018 and was more consistent in his performances across both domestic and international tournaments. Modric was great, but Ronaldo’s performances still overshadowed his.
2019 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Lionel Messi)
Despite Barcelona not winning the Champions League, Messi scored 51 goals in a stellar season, leading his team to a La Liga title. Messi’s individual brilliance was unmatched, and he was the clear winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2019.
2020 – Cancelled (Our Pick: Robert Lewandowski)
The 2020 Ballon d’Or was cancelled due to the pandemic, but Robert Lewandowski had an exceptional season, scoring 55 goals and helping Bayern Munich win the treble. He would have been the undisputed winner had the award taken place.
2021 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Robert Lewandowski)
Despite Lewandowski scoring 41 goals for Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga, and breaking Gerd Müller’s record, Messi’s Copa América victory with Argentina was enough to earn him the Ballon d’Or. Lewandowski should have been crowned, in our opinion.
2022 – Karim Benzema (Our Pick: Karim Benzema)
Benzema had a career-defining year, leading Real Madrid to another Champions League title and scoring crucial goals, including hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea. His consistent excellence across the season made him the clear winner, and our pick aligns with the voting.
2023 – Lionel Messi (Our Pick: Erling Haaland)
While Messi won the Ballon d’Or for his performances in the World Cup, Erling Haaland had an extraordinary season for Manchester City, scoring 52 goals and winning the treble. Haaland’s achievements in 2023 should have earned him the Ballon d’Or, in our view.
2024 – Rodri (Our Pick: Vinícius Júnior)
Rodri played a key role for both Manchester City and Spain in 2024, but Vinícius Júnior was decisive in the Champions League final and La Liga, with 15 goals and a crucial winner in the final. He deserved the award for his incredible impact throughout the year.
2025 Favorite – Ousmane Dembélé (Our Pick: Ousmane Dembélé)
Dembélé is the favorite for 2025, following a stellar season with PSG that saw them win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Champions, and the Champions League. While other players like Mbappé and Lamine Yamal have been consistent, Dembélé’s performances in key moments of the season make him our pick for 2025.
