Which Defender Last Claimed Football's Most Coveted Prize: The Ballon d'Or?

The craft of defending is typically undervalued when award ceremonies arrive.

From the Ballon d'Or's beginning in 1956, there have been only a handful of occasions where voters chose magnificent defensive solidity over spectacular creativity, brilliant wing displays, or abundant goal-scoring.

It's those responsible for creating chances and finding the net that capture attention and admiration, while the warriors charged with halting the magicians are viewed with less appreciation. They're stopping all the entertainment from unfolding.

However, there have been defensive displays so exceptional that they demanded recognition at the highest level. There have been innovative trailblazers, reliable sweepers, and flawless traditionalists who have claimed the prize, though we haven't witnessed a defender secure Ballon d'Or success in nearly two decades.

Who Was the Last Defender to Win the Ballon d'Or?

The most recent defender to claim the Ballon d'Or was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. His Italy and Juventus colleague, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, placed second, narrowly ahead of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry in third place.

That same year, Cannavaro also captured the competing FIFA World Player of the Year trophy—becoming the sole defender ever to claim it throughout its 19-year existence.

Cannavaro isn't the sole defender to have secured the Ballon d'Or, however (he remains the only non-German). Franz Beckenbauer established the tradition, triumphing in 1972 and once more in 1976, while compatriot sweeper Matthias Sammer entered the elite group in 1996.

Why Did Fabio Cannavaro Win the Ballon d'Or in 2006?

As a country, Italy was caught up in the Calciopoli controversy that resulted in Juventus losing Serie A championships and facing relegation, while AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina received penalties.

This made their World Cup success even more meaningful and Cannavaro specifically represented that defensive mindset and determination better than any other player through his displays. The Italian delivered one of the greatest individual World Cup showings in the Azzurri's semi-final win against host nation Germany.

2006 also witnessed 33-year-old Cannavaro claim Serie A Defender of the Year for the second straight season, plus Serie A Footballer of the Year.

The mix of Juve's demotion and his exceptional World Cup performance secured Cannavaro a bargain move to Real Madrid, where he concluded the calendar year and would subsequently capture consecutive La Liga championships.