The Ballon d’Or’s first-ever victor remains its oldest. Stanley Matthews scooped the inaugural award in 1956 at an astounding 41 years old.
However, at the other end of the spectrum, there have been some remarkably youthful past winners. While no teenager has claimed football’s most coveted individual prize – yet, at least – there have been an array of up-and-coming world-beaters that have been crowned the planet’s best at a tender age.
Only one Ballon d’Or victor has been presented with the award prior to their 22nd birthday, topping a list of young superstars that have revolutionized football throughout the years.
Here are the youngest Ballon d’Or winners ever.
Year: 1971Club: AjaxAge: 24 years, 8 months & 3 days
One of the most transformative figures in 20th-century football, Johan Cruyff’s exceptional talent was recognized by France Football – the distributors of the Ballon d’Or since its inception – on multiple occasions as he spearheaded the Total Football revolution.
Cruyff was swiftly granted superstar status across the globe after emerging in his native Netherlands in the 1960s, with his maiden Ballon d’Or triumph arriving in 1971 while he was still donning the red and white of Ajax.
Approximately four months prior to his 25th birthday, Cruyff was given the first of three Ballon d’Or awards after winning the European Cup with the Amsterdam side in the year of his earliest victory.
Year: 1988Club: AC MilanAge: 24 years, 1 month & 27 days
Cruyff is undoubtedly the most gifted and famous footballer the Netherlands have ever produced, but he’s not the youngest Ballon d’Or champion in the nation’s illustrious history. That’s an honor bestowed upon Marco van Basten.
Much like his legendary compatriot, Van Basten also finished his career with three Ballon d’Or titles to his name, the first of which arrived in 1988 as he managed something Cruyff never did – to win the European Championship with the Oranje.
While also impressing in the colors of Italian giants AC Milan, the prolific Dutch striker fought off competition from international teammates Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard to claim the prize.
That volley in the Euro ’88 final probably helped.
Year: 1965Club: BenficaAge: 23 years, 11 months & 3 days
Portugal’s Iberian neighbors Spain had dominated much of the Ballon d’Or voting in its first decade, but Eusebio disrupted their success. Having finished runner-up in 1962 to Czechoslovakia’s Josef Masopust, Benfica’s fabled sharpshooter finally earned his victory three years later.
Mozambique-born Eusebio became the first Black player to win the prize following a sensational 1965 that saw him score at an astonishing rate. In 1964/65, the Benfica star netted 48 times in 36 matches across all competitions.
Eusebio was just shy of his 24th birthday when he earned football’s most prestigious individual honor, following his victory up with another second-placed finish the following year as Portugal finished third at the 1966 World Cup.
Year: 2008Club: Manchester UnitedAge: 23 years, 9 months, 29 days
Just besting his international predecessor, Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal’s youngest Ballon d’Or victor. The first of his five triumphs came all the way back in 2008 with Manchester United, capping a frightening year for one of football’s all-time greats.
Ronaldo had won the Premier League and Champions League double with the Red Devils at the end of the 2007/08 campaign. He scored in the final of the latter against Chelsea after producing a then-record 31 goals in a 38-game Premier League season.
Ronaldo earned a lucrative move to Real Madrid the following year, with the Santiago Bernabeu his home for the four subsequent Ballon d’Or victories.
Year: 1965Club: BenficaAge: 23 years, 11 months & 3 days
Portugal’s Iberian neighbors Spain had dominated much of the Ballon d’Or voting in its first decade, but Eusebio disrupted their success. Having finished runner-up in 1962 to Czechoslovakia’s Josef Masopust, Benfica’s fabled sharpshooter finally earned his victory three years later.
Mozambique-born Eusebio became the first Black player to win the prize following a sensational 1965 that saw him score at an astonishing rate. In 1964/65, the Benfica star netted 48 times in 36 matches across all competitions.
Eusebio was just shy of his 24th birthday when he earned football’s most prestigious individual honor, following his victory up with another second-placed finish the following year as Portugal finished third at the 1966 World Cup.
Year: 2001Club: LiverpoolAge: 22 years, 0 months & 4 days
Michael Owen is the most recent Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or and the only player to have done so while playing for Liverpool. He’s also the second youngest recipient of the award after bursting onto the scene in the late 1990s and enjoying an incredibly productive 2001.
The relentless goalscorer helped Liverpool win a treble at the turn of the century, with the League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup taken to Merseyside at the end of the 2000/01 season. Owen finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer with 24 strikes in all competitions.
But it was Owen’s display in the FA Cup final that season that was the most eye-catching. The England international scored in the 83rd and then 88th minute to secure a 2-1 comeback victory against Arsenal in the showpiece event at the Millennium Stadium.
Year: 1997Club: InterAge: 21 years, 3 months & 5 days
Ronaldo truly earned the name ‘O Fenomeno’ (The Phenomenon). The Brazilian’s performances for club and country were staggering in his early career, with his own body the only thing that prevented him from becoming the greatest footballer the world has ever seen.
Naturally, Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or – and not just once. His first triumph in 1997 came during his time with Inter, and he became the youngest victor at 21 years of age.
The striker’s following award was picked up in 2002 after a sensational World Cup, with the Brazilian dynamo scoring twice in the final against Germany as the South Americans were crowned world champions. He finished the tournament with the Golden Boot.
Ronaldo would have won his first Ballon d’Or at an even younger age after being crowned FIFA Footballer of the Year in 1996, but FIFA’s award wasn’t subsumed by the Ballon d’Or until 2010.
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Conclusion
Looking back at the youngest Ballon d’Or winners in football history, it becomes evident that age is just a number when it comes to achieving greatness. These young superstars set the bar high early in their careers, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.
From Johan Cruyff to Cristiano Ronaldo, each winner brought their unique talents and skills to the game, captivating fans worldwide with their performances. The Ballon d’Or serves as a testament to their exceptional abilities and contributions to the world of football.
As we celebrate the achievements of these remarkable individuals, we can only wonder who the next young sensation will be to claim the prestigious award and inspire a new generation of footballers.
