The Ballon d’Or — football’s most prestigious individual honor — has been awarded annually by France Football since 1956 to the world’s best player, a symbol of greatness that only the sport’s elite have earned.
Winning the Ballon d’Or at a young age isn’t just about talent — it’s a statement that a player has already reached the pinnacle of the sport long before their prime.
Winning the Ballon d’Or is the dream of every professional footballer. However, a few remarkable prodigies have broken through early and clinched the award at incredibly young ages.
In this article, we count down the 10 youngest Ballon d’Or winners in history, including their age at the time of winning, the year, and the career-defining seasons that earned them the honor.
And yes—we’ll reveal who holds the title of the youngest Ballon d’Or winner of all time. curious about records that might be broken in the future, this list is for you.
Who Is the Youngest Ballon d’Or Winner Ever?
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1. Ronaldo Nazário – 1997 (21 years, 3 months and 5 days)
In 1997, at just 21 years and 95 days old, Ronaldo Nazário became the youngest player ever to win the Ballon d’Or—a record that still stands nearly three decades later.
His 1996/97 season with Barcelona was nothing short of legendary. The Brazilian phenomenon scored an astonishing 47 goals in 49 appearances, leading the Catalan side to a Copa del Rey, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and Spanish Super Cup treble.
That summer, Ronaldo made a then-world record move to Inter Milan for £19.2 million. He instantly adapted to Serie A, netting 25 league goals in his debut season and earning the Serie A Footballer of the Year title.
Midway through that first season in Italy, he was awarded the 1997 Ballon d’Or, recognizing his sheer dominance across two top leagues.
Despite injuries later affecting his career trajectory, Ronaldo’s 1997 peak remains one of football’s most electrifying chapters—and no one has matched his youthful triumph since.
2. Michael Owen – 2001 (22 years and 4 days)
Michael Owen won the Ballon d’Or in 2001, just four days after turning 22, making him the second youngest winner in history.
He remains England’s most recent Ballon d’Or recipient, and the first English player to win the award in 25 years.
Owen’s rise to the top was fueled by a spectacular 2000/01 season with Liverpool, where he scored 24 goals across all competitions.
His most iconic moments came in clutch situations—scoring late doubles in both the FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals.
These heroics helped Liverpool secure a rare and memorable cup treble: the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup.
3. Lionel Messi – 2009 (22 years, 5 months and 7 days)
Lionel Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 at the age of 22 years, 5 months, and 7 days, making him the third youngest player ever to claim the prestigious honor.
His victory was emphatic, garnering 98.5% of the vote and finishing 240 points ahead of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo, a record-breaking margin at the time.
That first Ballon d’Or was the start of an era in which Messi dominated world football for over a decade. Since then, Messi has gone on to win the most Ballon d’Ors in history, with eight.
The 2008/09 season was a masterpiece for Messi. Under Pep Guardiola, Messi led Barcelona to a historic treble – winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
He scored 38 goals in all competitions that season, including a brilliant header against Manchester United in the Champions League final.
4. George Best – 1968 (22 years, 7 months and 2 days)
George Best won the Ballon d’Or in 1968 at the age of 22 years, 7 months and 2 days, becoming the fourth youngest winner in the award’s history. Remarkably, his record as the youngest Ballon d’Or winner stood for 29 years.
He became the third Red Devils player to claim the honor, following in the footsteps of Denis Law (1964) and Bobby Charlton (1966).
The 1967/68 season was the pinnacle of Best’s career. He scored 32 goals in all competitions, playing a pivotal role in Manchester United‘s historic European Cup triumph.
5. Oleg Blokhin – 1975 (23 years, 1 month and 25 days)
Oleg Blokhin won the Ballon d’Or in 1975 at the age of 23 years, 1 month, and 25 days, making him one of the youngest players to ever claim the prestigious award.
He became the first Ukrainian and only the second Soviet player to win the Ballon d’Or, following the legendary Lev Yashin in 1963.
Blokhin earned the honor after an outstanding season with Dynamo Kyiv, where he scored 23 goals and played a pivotal role in helping the club win its first-ever European trophy—the 1974–75 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2008 (23 years, 9 months and 27 days)
Cristiano Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 at the age of 23 years, 9 months and 27 days, becoming one of the youngest players to ever receive the prestigious honor.
He amassed 446 points, finishing comfortably ahead of second-placed Lionel Messi and third-placed Fernando Torres.
It was also a landmark moment for English football, as Ronaldo became the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
His victory marked the beginning of a legendary rivalry with Messi and ushered in a new era of global football dominance defined by two generational icons.
The 2007/08 season was the most explosive of Ronaldo’s early career. Playing for Manchester United, he scored an incredible 42 goals in all competitions, powering the Red Devils to both the Premier League title and their third UEFA Champions League crown.
7. Eusébio – 1965 (23 years, 11 months, 3 days)
Nicknamed “The Black Panther,” Eusébio became one of the youngest players to win the Ballon d’Or in 1965, at the age of 23 years, 11 months, 3 days.
A trailblazer for footballers of African descent, Eusébio was also the first Portuguese player to receive the prestigious award—marking a milestone moment in both Portuguese and global football history.
The 1964/65 season was one of the finest of his career. He scored an incredible 48 goals in all competitions, including 28 in the Portuguese league.
On the European stage, he netted nine goals during Benfica’s run to the European Cup final, further cementing his status as one of the most feared forwards in the world.
8. Johan Cruyff – 1971 (24 years, 8 months and 3 days)
The Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff won his first Ballon d’Or in 1971 at the age of 24 years, 8 months, and 3 days, making him one of the youngest recipients of the award at the time.
In the 1970/71 season, Cruyff was the driving force behind a legendary Ajax side. He scored an impressive 49 goals in all competitions, guiding the club to a historic treble—the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, and most significantly, their first-ever European Cup title.
Cruyff’s 1971 Ballon d’Or win was the first of three career triumphs (followed by 1973 and 1974), making him the first Dutch player to win the award and setting the stage for a legacy that reshaped the sport.
9. Marco van Basten – 1988 (24 years, 1 month and 27 days)
Dutch striker Marco van Basten won his first Ballon d’Or in 1988 at the age of 24 years, 1 month and 27 days, making him one of the youngest winners of his era.
He claimed the award after leading the Netherlands to a stunning triumph at UEFA Euro 1988, where he scored five goals—including an unforgettable volley in the final.
His 1988 victory was the first of three Ballon d’Or titles (followed by wins in 1989 and 1992), cementing his place among football’s all-time greats.
Scoring five goals, including a legendary volley in the final against the Soviet Union—one of the most iconic goals ever scored in a major final.
10. Luis Suárez – 1960 (25 years, 7 months, 10 days)
Barcelona’s first Ballon d’Or winner, Luis Suárez, claimed the prestigious award in 1960 at the age of 25 years, 7 months, 10 days, becoming the first Spanish-born player to receive the honor.
During the 1959/60 season, Suárez was instrumental in Barcelona’s La Liga and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumphs (the forerunner to the UEFA Cup/Europa League).
His elegant midfield play, vision, and technical brilliance set him apart from his peers, and he edged out legends like Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano to win the Ballon d’Or.
Could This Record Be Broken Soon?
With Ronaldo Nazário still holding the record as the youngest Ballon d’Or winner at 21 years and 96 days, fans often wonder—could anyone break this record in the modern era?
One name stands out: Lamine Yamal. At just 17 years old, the Barcelona and Spain sensation is already making headlines on football’s biggest stages.
If Yamal can lead Barcelona to major silverware this season and inspire Spain to a deep run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ballon d’Or spotlight could arrive much sooner than anyone expected.
Ronaldo’s record has stood since 1997, but with Yamal’s meteoric rise, football fans might soon witness a new chapter in Ballon d’Or history being written—by its youngest ever winner.
The Ballon d’Or remains a dream for every footballer, but few have managed to make that dream a reality at such a young age.
Winning the Ballon d’Or at such a young age requires other talents that bring immediate team success.
Who do you think will be the next young star to join this legendary list?
