FIFA Ballon d'Or Award
The FIFA Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in world football. It's awarded each year to the world's best male footballer, with the votes coming from national team captains and coaches, as well as a select number of international media representatives.
The FIFA Ballon d'Or award has only been handed out since 2010 but has a much longer history as it's actually been merged from two older awards - the Ballon d'Or (started by France Football magazine back in 1956) and the men's FIFA World Player of the Year award, which ran from 1991 to 2009.
And for those not up to speed on their French, Ballon d'Or translates as Golden Ball.
FIFA Ballon d'Or Winners
All of the winners of FIFA's Ballon d'Or award since 2010...
Year | Winner | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Andres Iniesta (Spain) | Xavi Hernandez (Spain) |
2011 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Xavi Hernandez (Spain) |
2012 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Andres Iniesta (Spain) |
2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Franck Ribery (France) |
2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Manuel Neuer (Germany) |
2015 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Neymar (Brazil) |
2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Antoine Griezmann (France) |