England's Golden Legacy: Every Player to Claim the Prestigious Ballon d'Or

While England might be considered the cradle of football as we understand it today, this heritage doesn't automatically translate to dominance in the sport's most coveted individual accolade.

The Ballon d'Or emerged in 1956 and has been claimed by numerous legendary players over the decades. From Liberia to Bulgaria to Northern Ireland, this prestigious golden sphere has traveled across continents.

Although England isn't among the most successful nations in Ballon d'Or history, several winners have emerged from the British Isles—though it's been quite a while since an English player has claimed this honor.

Complete List of English Ballon d'Or Winners

The number of English Ballon d'Or champions can be counted on one hand, yet the Three Lions can boast having the very first recipient. That distinction belongs to Blackpool's (indeed, Blackpool's) Stanley Matthews, who claimed the prize in its debut year of 1956, narrowly defeating Real Madrid icon Alfredo Di Stéfano.

A full decade passed before another Englishman would hold the trophy, but it came in the most nationally significant manner. Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton edged out Eusébio after leading England to their sole World Cup triumph.

The late 1970s witnessed Kevin Keegan becoming the first English player to secure multiple victories with consecutive wins. Remarkably, his success came while playing in Germany, where the former Liverpool star excelled through outstanding displays in the Bundesliga and European Cup with Hamburg. After narrowly defeating Hans Krankl in 1978, Keegan dominated the following year's competition.

More than two decades elapsed before England secured their fifth and latest Ballon d'Or triumph, with rising sensation Michael Owen claiming glory in 2001.

After establishing himself as a dominant presence for Liverpool during their treble-winning campaign at the millennium's turn, Owen's memorable double in the FA Cup final against Arsenal stood as his defining moment that season.

English Ballon d'Or Champions

English Players Who Nearly Claimed the Ballon d'Or

Several incredibly narrow defeats have occurred in previous Ballon d'Or competitions, with English contenders regularly reaching the podium. Even former champions Charlton and Keegan both experienced runner-up finishes, with Charlton achieving this twice in 1967 and 1968.

England's 1966 World Cup-winning skipper Bobby Moore also finished second four years after raising football's ultimate prize with the national team. He placed behind prolific German striker Gerd Múller, who himself secured second place two years subsequently.

The year following the inaugural Ballon d'Or, England remarkably placed two players in the top three. Wolverhampton Wanderers' Billy Wright and Manchester United's Duncan Edwards both fell short of overtaking Di Stéfano. Edwards shared third position with French legend Raymond Kopa.

2005 remains the sole other occasion featuring two Englishmen among the top three, with national teammates and exceptional central midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard falling short against Ronaldinho's South American brilliance. While neither threatened the Barcelona maestro's supremacy, Lampard narrowly outpointed Gerrard for second place by just six votes.

England's early football icon, David Beckham, must have felt unfortunate in 1999. The wing midfielder guided Manchester United to a treble, including an extraordinary Champions League final turnaround, yet couldn't surpass Barcelona's Rivaldo for the top prize.

In recent times, Jude Bellingham secured third place in the 2024 Ballon d'Or standings, trailing Manchester City's Rodri and his Real Madrid colleague Vinicius Jr.

English Players Among Ballon d'Or Top Three Finishers