Ballon d'Or 2019: Meet the Champions Who Claimed Football's Most Prestigious Prize

The 2019 Ballon d'Or gala marked a milestone moment in football history across multiple dimensions.

Held at the prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the world's elite footballers assembled to honor the sport's most exceptional talents. The voting proved remarkably tight, representing one of the most competitive races in the award's legacy, with Lionel Messi narrowly edging out Virgil van Dijk for the top prize.

Additionally, this marked the first occasion since 2010 that Cristiano Ronaldo failed to secure a top-two finish. The Portuguese superstar and former Real Madrid icon claimed third place while representing Juventus.

The Yashin Trophy, recognizing the world's premier goalkeeper, made its debut at the 2019 ceremony.

Below is the complete roster of honorees from the 2019 Ballon d'Or celebration.

2019 Ballon d'Or Results: Winners and Nominees

Men's Ballon d'Or 2019 Winner

Messi's 2019 Ballon d'Or triumph holds special significance for dual reasons: it represented his sixth accolade, surpassing his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, and marked his final acceptance of the prize as a Barcelona representative.

His primary challenger for the distinction wasn't Ronaldo, who was playing for Juventus during that period. Rather, it was Liverpool's defensive stalwart Van Dijk, who had guided Liverpool to Champions League glory. This signing proved to be one of the most impactful transfers in modern football, as Liverpool subsequently captured the Premier League title in 2019–20.

Women's Ballon d'Or 2019 Winner

United States women's national team icon Megan Rapinoe claimed the Ballon d'Or Féminin, marking the second presentation of this prestigious award. She remains the sole American player to achieve this distinction.

Yashin Trophy 2019 Winner

Similar to Van Dijk's impact, Alisson is recognized for helping Liverpool achieve success under Jürgen Klopp's leadership. The Brazilian shot-stopper earned the Yashin Trophy for his sole victory, while holding the distinction of being the award's first-ever recipient.

Kopa Trophy 2019 Winner

Ex-Ajax defender, currently with Manchester United, Matthijs de Ligt secured the second-ever Kopa Trophy, defeating contenders including Jadon Sancho, João Félix, and Vinícius Júnior.