The Classic Era 1956–1994
The era when the award belonged to Europe — before 1995, only players at European clubs could win. Pelé and Maradona never did; the gods of the world game stood outside the door.
The apologies, in gold — the honorary file →
39 editions of the award fall inside these years. 29 files open below.
Stanley Matthews
1956
“The Wizard of the Dribble”
Alfredo Di Stéfano
19571959
“The Blond Arrow”
Raymond Kopa
1958
“The Napoleon of Football”
Luis Suárez
1960
“The Architect of the Grande Inter”
Omar Sívori
1961
“The Atomic Flea”
Josef Masopust
1962
“The Marathon Man of Dukla”
Lev Yashin
1963
“The Black Spider”
Denis Law
1964
“The King of the Stretford End”
Eusébio
1965
“The Black Panther”
Bobby Charlton
1966
“The Gentleman Survivor”
Flórián Albert
1967
“The Emperor of Ferencváros”
George Best
1968
“The Fifth Beatle”
Luigi Riva
1969
“Rombo di Tuono — The Thunderbolt”
Gerd Müller
1970
“Der Bomber”
Johan Cruyff
197119731974
“The Total Footballer”
Franz Beckenbauer
19721976
“Der Kaiser”
Oleh Blokhin
1975
“The Sprinter of Kyiv”
Allan Simonsen
1977
“Denmark's Only”
Kevin Keegan
19781979
“The First Back-to-Back”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
19801981
“The Second Bomber”
Paolo Rossi
1982
“Pablito of the Golden Summer”
Michel Platini
198319841985
“Le Roi”
Ihor Belanov
1986
“The Last Eastern Ballon d'Or”
Ruud Gullit
1987
“The Dreadlocked Prince”
Marco van Basten
198819891992
“The Swan of Utrecht”
Lothar Matthäus
1990
“Der Lange — The Engine”
Jean-Pierre Papin
1991
“The Papinade Specialist”
Roberto Baggio
1993
“Il Divin Codino — The Divine Ponytail”
Hristo Stoichkov
1994
“The Dagger”