Which winner of ‘Ballon d’Or’ has had the best career for their national team?

A player’s performance for their club undoubtedly carries enormous weight, as does their ability to lead their team to major successes in national and continental competitions.

But a player’s record with the national team also plays a significant role. Titles won for one’s country can not only be decisive in the race for the award, but also help to ensure a player’s name is etched in the memory of fans as one of the greatest in history.

With this in mind, we have analysed all the one-time winners of the ‘Ballon d'Or’ since the first edition of the ceremony in 1956, to discover who had the most remarkable career whilst wearing the national team shirt.

Stanley Matthews (winner in 1956) – England

Stanley Matthews, winner of the first ‘Ballon d'Or’ in 1956, enjoyed a long 23-year career with the England national team. During that time, he won nine British Home Championship titles, three of which were shared with other national teams.

Two of his most memorable performances came against Italy. The first was in the famous and fiercely contested ‘Battle of Highbury’ in November 1934, when England – who had recently rejoined FIFA after leaving the organisation in 1928 – defeated the then World Cup champions. The second came in the historic 4–0 victory over the Italians in Turin in May 1948, England’s biggest away win against the Italian national team.

Matthews played in the 1950 and 1954 World Cups. Although he took part in the qualifiers for the 1958 tournament whilst already in his forties, he was ultimately left out of the final squad for the tournament.

Alfredo Di Stéfano (winner in 1957 and 1959) – Argentina, Colombia and Spain

Alfredo Di Stéfano is one of the few winners of the ‘Ballon d’Or’ to have represented more than one national team during his career. He first represented Argentina, his country of birth, and won the 1947 South American Championship.

After a spell in Colombia, where he also played in friendlies for the local national team, Di Stéfano became a naturalised Spanish citizen in 1956 and went on to play for Spain. For La Roja, he scored 23 goals and became one of the all-time leading scorers for the national team, level with Sergio Ramos.

Even though he never played in a World Cup, Di Stéfano built a remarkable international career and is still regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Raymond Kopa (1958 winner) – France

Raymond Kopa’s career with the French national team was marked above all by the 1958 World Cup. With three goals in the tournament, he was one of the standout performers in the campaign that took France to the semi-finals.

The French were eventually knocked out by Brazil, but finished the competition in third place, with Kopa being selected for the tournament’s all-star team.

Ballon d’Or’s Kopa Trophy, awarded each season to the world’s best under-21 player, was named in honour of the French legend.

Luis Suárez (winner in 1960) – Spain

Luis Suárez represented Spain at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. He was also a key player in the team that won the country’s first ever European Championship in 1964, being named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

This remained Spain’s only major international title for 44 years, until they won the 2008 European Championship.

Omar Sívori (winner in 1961) – Argentina and Italy

Omar Sívori began his international career with Argentina, where he was part of the famous ‘Caras Sucias’ attacking trio, alongside Humberto Maschio and Antonio Angelillo.

Together, they led the Albiceleste to the 1957 South American Championship title, in a dominant campaign that included a memorable 3–0 victory over Brazil. Sívori was named the tournament’s best player, a year after finishing as top scorer at the 1956 Pan American Championship.

After moving to Italian football in 1957, Sívori was barred by the Argentine Football Association from representing the national team again. Thanks to his Italian heritage, he obtained Italian citizenship and went on to represent the Azzurri.

He played for Italy in the 1962 World Cup, but the team were knocked out in the group stage.

Josef Masopust (1962 winner) – Czechoslovakia

Josef Masopust was one of the greatest names in the history of Czechoslovakian football.

After winning the Central European International Cup in 1960, he led his national team to third place at that year’s European Championship and was selected for the tournament’s Team of the Tournament. Two years later, he spearheaded Czechoslovakia’s historic run to the final of the 1962 World Cup.

In the final against Brazil, Masopust opened the scoring, but his team were eventually defeated 3–1. Despite finishing as runners-up, he was awarded the Silver Ball and was once again named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

Czechoslovakia failed to qualify for the 1966 World Cup, the year in which Masopust played his last match for the national team.

With 63 caps, he shares sixth place with Ivo Viktor as the player with the sixth-most appearances for Czechoslovakia.

Lev Yashin (winner in 1963) – Soviet Union

Lev Yashin is the greatest name in the history of the Soviet Union national team. The only goalkeeper to have won the ‘Ballon d’Or’ and the inspiration behind the Yashin Trophy – awarded since 2019 to the world’s best goalkeeper at the ceremony – he made his mark in the Soviet shirt.

Yashin helped the Soviet Union win the gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games and the title at the first edition of the European Championship in 1960, when he was also voted the tournament’s best goalkeeper. Four years later, he received this honour once again at the 1964 European Championship, after leading his team to the runners-up spot.

At the 1966 World Cup, he led the Soviet Union to their best-ever performance in the tournament’s history, with the team finishing in fourth place.

With 74 caps, Yashin is the sixth-most capped player for the Soviet national team.

Denis Law (winner in 1964) – Scotland

For Scotland, Denis Law won six British Home Championship titles between 1962 and 1972, three of which were shared with other national teams.

His most memorable moment in the national team shirt came in April 1967, when he scored one of the goals in a 3–2 victory over England, just one year after the English had won the 1966 World Cup.

Law played one match for Scotland at the 1974 World Cup. Following their elimination in the group stage, he brought his international career to an end.

To this day, he shares the record for the Scottish national team’s all-time leading goalscorer with Kenny Dalglish, with 30 goals.

Eusébio (winner in 1965) – Portugal

Born in Mozambique, Eusébio became one of the greatest names in the history of the Portuguese national team.

His finest moment with Portugal came at the 1966 World Cup, when he led the team to third place – the country’s best-ever finish in the competition. During the tournament, he scored nine goals, helping Portugal beat Brazil and playing a key role in a historic 5–3 comeback victory over North Korea, after trailing 3–0.

In recognition of his achievements, he finished the World Cup as top scorer, received the Bronze Ball and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

Years later, he also helped Portugal finish as runners-up in the 1972 Independence Cup.

With 41 goals (although some sources put the figure at 42), Eusébio remains the third-highest goalscorer in the history of the Portuguese national team, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta.

Bobby Charlton (1966 winner) – England

Few players embody the history of the England national team quite like Sir Bobby Charlton.

The highlight of his career with the Three Lions came at the 1966 World Cup. Playing on home soil, Charlton was one of the key leaders of the team that won England’s first – and to date only – World Cup title, with a victory over West Germany in the final.

Prior to that, he helped the national team win the British Home Championship in 1958, the first of ten titles he would win for England, five of which were shared with other national teams.

In 1968, he helped England finish third at the European Championship and, two years later, played in his fourth World Cup, becoming the first English player to achieve this feat.

With 49 goals, Charlton was for decades England’s all-time leading goalscorer and currently ranks third on the all-time list. With 106 caps, he is also among the players with the most appearances for the national team.

Flórián Albert (1967 winner) – Hungary

The only Hungarian player to have won the ‘Ballon d’Or’, Flórián Albert enjoyed an outstanding career with the Hungarian national team.

He won a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games, finished the 1962 World Cup as one of the tournament’s top scorers and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament at Euro 1964, when Hungary finished third, and at the 1966 World Cup.

At the 1966 World Cup, his performance against Brazil, the reigning world champions at the time, was one of the highlights of his career. Hungary won the match, and Albert received a long round of applause for his performance.

In his last major international tournament, the 1972 European Championship, he helped the national team finish in fourth place.

With 31 goals, Albert is the tenth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Hungarian national team.

George Best (winner in 1968) – Northern Ireland

Although he enjoyed enormous success at club level, George Best did not achieve the same prominence for the Northern Ireland national team.

Even without playing in a World Cup – and despite being regarded as one of the greatest players in history never to have taken part in the tournament – Best had some memorable moments in the national team shirt.

In 1964, the year of his senior debut, he won the British Home Championship with Northern Ireland.

The most memorable moment of his international career came in October 1976, in a 2–2 draw against the formidable Netherlands. During the match, Best nutmegged Johan Cruyff, a three-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Gianni Rivera (1969 winner) – Italy

Gianni Rivera made his debut for the Italian senior national team in 1962 and, just a few months later, became the youngest player in the Azzurri’s history to score in an official match.

Following two group-stage exits at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, Rivera remained in the squad and was called up for Euro 1968, held on home soil. Italy won the title for the first time in their history.

At the 1970 World Cup, at the height of his career, Rivera was one of the star players in the Italian squad that finished as runners-up. Alongside Gigi Riva, he formed a decisive attacking partnership and scored the winning goal in extra time against West Germany in the semi-final, in the historic ‘Match of the Century’.

His final match for Italy came at the 1974 World Cup, bringing to a close a career marked by a European title and a World Cup runners-up finish.

Gerd Müller (1970 winner) – West Germany

When it comes to the great centre-forwards in the history of European football, few names carry as much weight as Gerd Müller.

A Bayern Munich legend, Müller won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup with West Germany. In both competitions, he finished as top scorer and was named in the tournament’s all-star team.

In the 1974 World Cup final, played in Munich, he scored the winning goal against Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands and capped off his international career with the World Cup title.

His record for the national team is impressive: 68 goals in 62 matches. For almost 40 years, he was Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer until he was overtaken by Miroslav Klose in 2014.

With 68 goals, Müller remains the second-highest goalscorer for the German national team, behind only Klose, who scored 71 times.

Johan Cruyff (winner in 1971, 1973 and 1974) – Netherlands

A three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, Johan Cruyff revolutionised world football by popularising the concept of ‘Total Football’ alongside manager Rinus Michels in the 1970s.

Captain of the Netherlands at the 1974 World Cup, Cruyff led the team to the final and was the standout performer of the campaign. During the tournament, he introduced the world to the famous “Cruyff Turn” and spearheaded the victory over Brazil in the semi-final.

For his performance in the competition, he was awarded the World Cup Golden Ball and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

In 1976, he won the Tournoi de Paris with the Dutch national team and led the side to third place at the European Championship. With 33 goals, he remains the ninth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Dutch national team, level with Abe Lenstra.

Franz Beckenbauer (winner in 1972 and 1976) – West Germany

A two-time winner of the ‘Ballon d’Or’, Franz Beckenbauer became one of the greatest names in the history of the West German national team.

He first came to prominence at the 1966 World Cup, when he was named the tournament’s best young player and won the Bronze Boot after the team finished as runners-up.

At the 1970 World Cup, he put in some outstanding performances and helped West Germany finish in third place. In 1971, he took over the captain’s armband and, the following year, led the team to the 1972 European Championship title, being named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

His finest hour came at the 1974 World Cup, when he led West Germany to the World Cup title on home soil. In the final against the Netherlands, he played a pivotal role in neutralising Johan Cruyff and securing the victory.

In 1976, he reached another European Championship final and was once again named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

Oleg Blokhin (1975 winner) – Soviet Union

Although he did not win any titles for the Soviet Union national team, Oleg Blokhin made his mark on the country’s history.

With 112 appearances, he is the player who has made the most appearances for the Soviet national team. Furthermore, he remains the all-time leading goalscorer in the team’s history, with 42 goals, including those scored at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

Allan Simonsen (1977 winner) – Denmark

Allan Simonsen was one of the key players in the Danish national team managed by Sepp Piontek in the 1980s.

During the qualifiers for Euro 1984, he played a decisive role in Denmark’s historic qualification. In the match against England at Wembley, he scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1–0 victory, a result that secured the country’s first appearance at a European Championship since 1964.

Denmark reached the semi-finals of the tournament, but Simonsen suffered a serious injury in the opening match and was ruled out for the remainder of the competition.

Two years later, he was part of Denmark’s first World Cup campaign, playing one match in the 1986 tournament.

Kevin Keegan (winner in 1978 and 1979) – England

A two-timeBallon d’Or winner, Kevin Keegan was one of the great leaders of the England team during his international career.

In 1976, he was named captain and remained a key figure in the team until his retirement from international football following the 1982 World Cup. Under his leadership, he captained England at the 1980 European Championship and finally took part in a World Cup in 1982, having missed out on the 1978 tournament.

Despite suffering from a chronic back injury, he took part in the tournament and ended his international career following England’s elimination in the second round.

Between 1973 and 1982, Keegan won four British Home Championship titles with the national team.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (winner in 1980 and 1981) – West Germany

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge played in three World Cups for West Germany and was runner-up in two of them, in 1982 and 1986.

During his time with the national team, he scored memorable goals at World Cups, including a hat-trick against Chile at the 1982 World Cup, the goal in extra time of the semi-final against France in the same tournament, and the goal in the 1986 World Cup final against Argentina.

In 1982, he was one of the standout players of the tournament, being named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament, as well as winning the Silver Boot and the Bronze Ball.

Two years earlier, he also played a key role in West Germany’s victory at the 1980 European Championship, being named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

With 45 goals, Rummenigge is the sixth-highest goalscorer in the history of the German national team, level with Thomas Müller.

Paolo Rossi (1982 winner) – Italy

At the 1978 World Cup, Paolo Rossi emerged as one of the world’s finest strikers. With Italy finishing fourth, he was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament and received the Silver Ball.

After missing the 1980 European Championship through suspension, Rossi returned in time to play in the 1982 World Cup and produced one of the most memorable individual performances in the tournament’s history.

In the knockout stages, he scored a historic hat-trick against Brazil – featuring Zico, Sócrates and Falcão – in the quarter-finals, netted twice in the semi-final against Poland and found the net again in the final against West Germany.

With these achievements, he led Italy to their third World Cup title, finished as the tournament’s top scorer, won the World Cup Golden Ball and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament for the second consecutive time.

Michel Platini (winner in 1983, 1984 and 1985) – France

A three-time winner of the ‘Ballon d’Or’, Michel Platini became one of the greatest names in the history of the French national team.

Since making his senior debut in 1976, when he scored from a free-kick, Platini quickly made a name for himself with his vision and long-range shooting. He helped France reach the 1978 World Cup and was one of the key figures in their 1982 World Cup campaign, which culminated in an epic semi-final against West Germany.

In 1984, as captain, he led France to their first major title in their history at the European Championship, held on home soil. Platini was the top scorer and was voted the tournament’s best player, scoring decisive goals throughout the campaign, including in the semi-final against Portugal and in the final against Spain.

The following year, he won the Finalissima against Uruguay. At the 1986 World Cup, he helped France knock Brazil out in the quarter-finals.

With 41 goals, Platini is the fifth-highest goalscorer in the history of the French national team.

Igor Belanov (1986 winner) – Soviet Union

At the 1986 World Cup, Igor Belanov was one of the Soviet Union’s standout players. He scored four goals and provided six assists, including a historic hat-trick in the 4–3 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16. For his performance, he was awarded the Bronze Boot at the tournament.

Two years later, he was also a key player in the Soviet Union’s run to the final of Euro 1988. Belanov finished the tournament as the top assist provider, but the team were eventually defeated by the Netherlands in the final.

Ruud Gullit (winner in 1987) – Netherlands

Ruud Gullit’s finest hour with the Dutch national team came when they won the 1988 European Championship, the country’s first major title.

Captain of the side managed by Rinus Michels, Gullit scored one of the goals in the victory over the Soviet Union in the final and became the first Dutch captain to lift an international trophy. For his performance, he was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

At the 1992 European Championship, despite being knocked out in the semi-finals by Denmark, Gullit was once again selected for the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

With 17 goals for the Netherlands, Gullit ended his international career as one of the greatest players of the generation that won the national team’s first major title.

Marco van Basten (winner in 1988, 1989 and 1992) – Netherlands

Like Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten was one of the key figures in the Netherlands’ historic victory at the 1988 European Championship.

A three-time Ballon d’Or winner, he scored five goals in the tournament, including a hat-trick against England in the group stage, the winning goal against West Germany in the semi-final and the unforgettable volley in the final against the Soviet Union.

Van Basten finished the competition as top scorer and was named the tournament’s best player, as well as being included in the tournament’s all-star team.

At Euro 1992, although he did not score any goals, he was once again named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament after the Netherlands were knocked out by Denmark in the semi-final.

He is also remembered as one of the greatest strikers in history never to have scored a goal at a World Cup.

Lothar Matthäus (1990 winner) – West Germany / Germany

Lothar Matthäus made his debut for the West German senior national team during their 1980 European Championship title-winning campaign. At the age of 19, he played one match in the tournament and won his first major international trophy.

At the 1986 World Cup, now a first-team regular, he helped West Germany reach the final, but the team were eventually defeated by Diego Maradona’s Argentina.

Two years later, as captain, he led the team at the 1988 European Championship, held on home soil, and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

His finest hour came at the 1990 World Cup. As team captain, he led West Germany to the World Cup title, becoming the last captain of the national team before the country’s reunification. For his performance, he received the Silver Ball and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

In 1998, he played in his fifth World Cup, becoming only the second player in history to achieve this feat.

With 150 caps, Matthäus remains the player with the most appearances for the German national team.

Jean-Pierre Papin (winner in 1991) – France

Jean-Pierre Papin enjoyed his first major success with the French national team by winning the 1985 Toulon Tournament, finishing as the competition’s top scorer.

At the 1986 World Cup, he scored two goals and helped France secure third place. Throughout his international career, he also played a key role in the team’s qualifying campaigns for major tournaments.

With 30 goals, Papin shares ninth place with Just Fontaine as the French national team’s all-time top scorer, just one goal behind Zinedine Zidane.

Roberto Baggio (winner in 1993) – Italy

Roberto Baggio’s first major tournament for the Italian national team was the 1990 World Cup, held on home soil. During the competition, he scored one of the tournament’s finest goals against Czechoslovakia and helped Italy finish in third place.

Four years later, at the height of his career, Baggio was the star of Italy’s campaign at the 1994 World Cup. After a difficult start, he shone in the knockout stages and scored two goals in the semi-final against Bulgaria, taking Italy through to the final.

Despite the defeat to Brazil in the final, he was awarded the Silver Ball and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

At the 1998 World Cup, he scored in the opening match against Chile and became the first Italian player to find the net in three different editions of the tournament.

With 27 goals, Baggio is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Italian national team, level with Alessandro Del Piero.

Hristo Stoichkov (1994 winner) – Bulgaria

Hristo Stoichkov was one of the key figures in Bulgaria’s historic campaign at the 1994 World Cup.

After scoring five goals in the qualifiers and helping the national team return to a major tournament, he shone at the World Cup with six goals, winning the Golden Boot and the Bronze Ball, as well as being named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

His most memorable moment came in the quarter-finals, when he led Bulgaria to a surprise 2–1 victory over Germany, the reigning world champions at the time.

Two years later, he was also a standout at Euro 1996, once again being selected for the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

With 37 goals to his name, Stoichkov ended his career as one of the all-time leading scorers for the Bulgarian national team.

George Weah (1995 winner) – Liberia

George Weah, the first player from a non-European nation to win the ‘Ballon d’Or’, was Liberia’s star player for over a decade.

Although he never played in a World Cup, Weah helped his country reach the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and 2002, captaining the national team on two of those occasions.

Regarded as one of the greatest players in history never to have played in a World Cup, he received a grand tribute in 2008 when he returned to the national team for a friendly against Nigeria at the age of 51. After the match, the number 14 shirt was retired in his honour.

With 18 goals, Weah remains the all-time leading goalscorer for the Liberian national team. With 75 appearances, he is also the second-most capped player for his country.

Matthias Sammer (1996 winner) – East Germany / Germany

Matthias Sammer was part of the East German squads that won the 1986 UEFA European Under-18 Championship and finished third at the 1987 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

Captain of East Germany in his final international match in 1990, he scored both goals in the 2–0 victory over Belgium before making his debut for the newly formed unified German national team.

His finest hour for the national team came at the 1996 European Championship. Sammer was one of the leaders of Germany’s title-winning campaign and was voted the tournament’s best player.

His last match for the national team took place in 1997, after an injury prevented him from taking part in the 1998 World Cup.

Ronaldo (winner in 1997 and 2002) – Brazil

At the age of 17, Ronaldo was part of the Brazilian squad at the 1994 World Cup, which Brazil won for the fourth time, although he did not take to the pitch.

He went on to win the Copa América in 1997 and 1999, as well as the national team’s first ever Confederations Cup in 1997. He was also voted the best player at the 1997 Copa América and formed a legendary strike partnership with Romário, known as ‘Ro-Ro’.

At the 1998 World Cup, he led Brazil to the final, scoring four goals and providing three assists; he was awarded the tournament’s Golden Ball and named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

Following a serious knee injury, he staged one of the greatest comebacks in football history at the 2002 World Cup. Alongside Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in the “Three Rs”, he led Brazil to their fifth World Cup title, finished as top scorer with eight goals and scored both goals in the final against Germany.

At the 2006 World Cup, he broke Gerd Müller’s record as the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, reaching 15 goals.

With 62 goals, Ronaldo is the third-highest goalscorer in the history of the Brazilian national team and has made 98 appearances for the Seleção.

Zinedine Zidane (winner in 1998) – France

Zinedine Zidane was part of the French Under-21 team that won the bronze medal at the 1993 Mediterranean Games before making his debut for the senior side the following year.

His first major tournament came at Euro 1996, when he helped France reach the semi-finals. Two years later, on home soil, Zidane became the star of the 1998 World Cup. In the final against Brazil, he scored two goals in the 3–0 victory that secured France’s first ever World Cup title. For his performance, he was named man of the match and included in the tournament’s all-star team.

In 2000, he led France to the European Championship title and was named the tournament’s best player, cementing his status as a national hero.

At the 2006 World Cup, he shone once again and was awarded the tournament’s Golden Ball, despite the defeat in the final against Italy.

With 108 appearances and 31 goals, Zidane ranks among the players with the most appearances and goals in the history of the French national team.

Rivaldo (winner in 1999) – Brazil

Rivaldo’s early career with the Brazilian national team was marked by criticism, but he went on to become one of the team’s leading figures in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

His finest hour came at the 1999 Copa América. Brazil’s top scorer in the tournament with five goals, he scored in the quarter-finals against Argentina and netted twice in the final against Uruguay, being named the tournament’s best player.

At the 2002 World Cup, alongside Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in the famous ‘Three Rs’ trio, Rivaldo played a key role in Brazil’s fifth World Cup victory. He scored in Brazil’s first five matches and was involved in both of Ronaldo’s goals in the final against Germany.

Selected for the tournament’s all-star team, he ended his international career the following year.

With 35 goals, Rivaldo is the seventh-highest goalscorer in the history of the Brazilian national team.

Luís Figo (winner in 2000) – Portugal

The second Portuguese player to win the ‘Ballon d’Or’, Luís Figo was the great leader of Portugal’s ‘Golden Generation’, which had won the 1991 Under-20 World Cup.

Throughout his international career, Figo helped Portugal qualify for the 1996 and 2000 European Championships, as well as the 2002 World Cup, ending a long spell without appearing in the tournament.

As captain, he led the national team at the 2004 European Championship, held on home soil, when Portugal reached the final. Two years later, he captained the team at the 2006 World Cup, guiding the country to the semi-finals and their best World Cup campaign in four decades. For his performance, he was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

With 127 caps, Figo is the fourth-most capped player for Portugal. With 32 goals, he also ranks fourth amongst the national team’s all-time top scorers.

Michael Owen (2001 winner) – England

The first player in history to score in four major tournaments for the England national team, Michael Owen was already making a name for himself in the youth ranks before making his senior debut at the age of 18 in 1998.

In the same year, he made history at the World Cup by becoming the youngest English player to score at a World Cup. He also scored one of the tournament’s most memorable goals against Argentina and was named the competition’s best young player.

During the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, he produced one of the most memorable moments of his career by scoring a hat-trick against Germany in Munich.

Owen played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 2000 and 2004 European Championships. In 2006, an injury brought his participation in the tournament to an end.

With 40 goals, Owen is the sixth-highest goalscorer in the history of the England national team.

Pavel Nedvěd (2003 winner) – Czechoslovakia / Czech Republic

Pavel Nedvěd played for Czechoslovakia’s youth teams in 1988 before making his debut for the newly formed Czech Republic national team in 1994.

His first major international tournament was Euro 1996, when he helped the Czech Republic reach the final and scored his first goal for the senior side. The team were eventually defeated by Germany in the final.

In 2004, Nedvěd was one of the standout players in the Czech Republic’s Euro campaign. Voted man of the match in the historic 3–2 comeback victory over the Netherlands, he was named in the tournament’s team of the tournament after the side reached the semi-finals.

As captain, he led the Czech Republic to qualification for the 2006 World Cup, the country’s first appearance at a World Cup since the break-up of Czechoslovakia.

With 91 caps, Nedvěd is the seventh-most capped player for the Czech national team. With 18 goals, he also ranks seventh among the team’s all-time top scorers.

Andriy Shevchenko (2004 winner) – Ukraine

A decade after making his debut for Ukraine’s senior national team, Andriy Shevchenko led his country to qualification for the 2006 World Cup – the first major international tournament in the team’s history.

As captain, he led the team throughout the tournament and scored in Ukraine’s first-ever World Cup victory, a 4–0 rout of Saudi Arabia. The team reached the quarter-finals, their best-ever performance at a World Cup.

At Euro 2012, held on home soil, Shevchenko was at the centre of one of the tournament’s most memorable moments when he scored two headed goals against Sweden.

After the tournament, he ended his international career as Ukraine’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 48 goals, and the third-most capped player for the national team, with 111 appearances.

Ronaldinho (winner in 2005) – Brazil

Part of the first Brazilian side to win the Under-17 World Cup in 1997, Ronaldinho also helped the Under-20 team finish third in the 1999 South American Championship before taking part in that year’s successful Copa América campaign.

In 1999, he played in the Confederations Cup and was awarded the Golden Ball and Golden Boot for the tournament, having scored in every match except the final.

The following year, he was the top scorer at the Pre-Olympic Tournament and led Brazil to the title. At the 2002 World Cup, alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in the ‘Three Rs’, he was a key player in Brazil’s fifth World Cup victory. He scored two goals and provided three assists, including the famous free-kick against England, and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

In 2005, as captain, he won the Confederations Cup once again and was named man of the match in the final against Argentina.

Ronaldinho also won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. With 33 goals, he is the eighth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Brazilian national team, level with Jairzinho.

Fabio Cannavaro (2006 winner) – Italy

Fabio Cannavaro began building his legacy as a legend of the Italian national team whilst still in the youth ranks, leading the Under-21 side to back-to-back European Under-21 Championship titles in 1994 and 1996.

After making his senior international debut in 1997, he quickly made his mark and produced some outstanding performances at World Cups. In 1998, he helped Italy reach the quarter-finals, and in 2002 he was seen as key to maintaining the team’s defensive solidity following Alessandro Nesta’s injury.

At Euro 2004, he was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament after Italy conceded just two goals and reached the final.

His finest hour came at the 2006 World Cup. As captain, he led Italy to their fourth World Cup title, lifting the trophy in his 100th cap for the national team. He played every minute of the campaign, kept five clean sheets and did not receive a single booking throughout the tournament.

With 136 appearances, Cannavaro is the second-most capped player for Italy, behind only Gianluigi Buffon.

Kaká (winner in 2007) – Brazil

Kaká made his debut for the senior Brazilian national team in 2002 and was part of the squad that won their fifth World Cup that year, although he played just 25 minutes in the tournament.

His first major moment in the yellow and green came at the 2005 Confederations Cup, when he scored in the final against Argentina and helped Brazil lift the trophy. At the 2006 World Cup, he was one of the team’s standout players, despite their elimination in the quarter-finals.

In 2009, Kaká shone once again at the Confederations Cup, leading Brazil to the title. As well as being named man of the match in the final, he received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

At the 2010 World Cup, he finished as one of the tournament’s top assist providers. With 29 goals, he ended his international career for Brazil as the country’s tenth-highest goalscorer of all time.

Cristiano Ronaldo (winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) – Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has become one of the greatest names in the history of the Portuguese national team since making his debut for the senior side. In 2004, he helped Portugal reach the final of the European Championship, which was held on home soil, and was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

At the 2006 World Cup, he scored his first World Cup goal and, at the age of 21, became the youngest Portuguese player to find the net in the competition. He subsequently took over the captain’s armband and went on to lead the national team in a series of successful campaigns.

The highlight of his career came at the 2016 European Championship, when he led Portugal to the first major title in their history. He also won two editions of the Nations League, in 2019 and 2025, as well as finishing as top scorer at Euro 2020.

In 2026, aged 41, he played in his sixth World Cup and became the first player to score in six editions of the tournament. With 233 appearances and 146 goals, he is the player with the most appearances and goals for a national team in the history of football.

Lionel Messi (winner in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023) – Argentina

Lionel Messi has built one of the greatest careers in the history of the Argentine national team. At youth level, he led Argentina to the 2005 Under-20 World Cup title, winning the tournament’s Golden Ball, before making his senior debut at the age of 18.

After being handed the number 10 shirt in 2009, he endured years of frustration with the Albiceleste, including three lost finals between 2014 and 2016. However, his return following a brief retirement from international football marked the start of a new era.

In 2021, Messi ended a 28-year drought by winning the Copa América, being named the tournament’s best player. The following year, he led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, scoring two goals in the final against France and receiving the Golden Ball for the second time in his career.

He also won the 2024 Copa América and, in 2026, finished as runner-up in the World Cup, winning the Silver Boot and the Silver Ball. With 207 appearances and 125 goals, he holds Argentina’s records for both appearances and goals.

Luka Modrić (2018 winner) – Croatia

Luka Modrić has become the greatest symbol of the Croatian national team and led one of the most remarkable generations in the country’s history. After featuring as a substitute at the 2006 World Cup, he earned a place in the starting line-up for Euro 2008, when he was named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

The pinnacle of his career with Croatia came at the 2018 World Cup. As captain, he led the ‘Golden Generation’ to the country’s first-ever World Cup final, won the tournament’s Golden Ball and was once again named in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

In 2022, he led Croatia to third place at the World Cup, following a campaign that included knocking Brazil out in the quarter-finals, and was awarded the Bronze Ball. He also helped the national team reach the final of the 2023 Nations League.

At the age of 40, he played in his fifth World Cup, reached the 200-cap milestone for Croatia and became the oldest player to provide an assist in the tournament. With 202 appearances and 29 goals, he is the second-most capped player in international football history, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Karim Benzema (2022 winner) – France

Karim Benzema has enjoyed an outstanding career with the French national team, starting in the youth ranks with the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship title and the top scorer award at the 2005 Meridian Cup.

After making his senior debut in 2007, he played in the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and took part in the 2014 World Cup, helping France reach the quarter-finals.

After five years away from the national team, Benzema returned in 2021 and made a major impact at the European Championship, scoring four goals and winning the Bronze Boot. In the same year, he played a decisive role in winning the Nations League, being named man of the match in the final against Spain and winning his first title with the senior side.

Ruled out of the 2022 World Cup through injury, he brought his international career to a close after the tournament. With 97 appearances and 37 goals, he is France’s sixth-highest goalscorer of all time.

Rodri (2024 winner) – Spain

Rodri has enjoyed a successful career with the Spanish national team since his youth days, winning the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and finishing as runner-up at the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

After making his senior debut, he helped Spain reach the finals of the 2021 Nations League and featured in the European Championship that same year, in which the team were knocked out in the semi-finals.

Rodri’s finest moments for Spain have come in recent years. In 2023, he was voted the best player of the Nations League finals and helped the team win the title against Croatia.

In 2024, he was named the best player of the European Championship as part of Spain’s title-winning campaign. Later, as captain, he led Spain to their second World Cup title in the country’s history, starting every match and winning the Golden Ball for his performances in midfield.

Ousmane Dembélé (winner in 2025) – France

Ousmane Dembélé, the most recent winner of the ‘Ballon d’Or’, won the 2018 World Cup with France in his first major tournament for the national team.

He then played in Euro 2021 and the 2022 World Cup, where he featured in every match and helped France reach the final, finishing as runners-up to Argentina.

In 2024, he played in another European Championship and, at this year’s World Cup, put in a historic performance by scoring a first-half hat-trick against Norway in the group stage; he was named man of the match and became the first player to achieve this feat in over 30 years.

He also scored a goal in the third-place play-off against England, ending the tournament with France in fourth place.

In summary

So, that’s it.

Although at different levels, all the winners of ‘Ballon d’Or’ have left their mark on their respective national teams.

Below are the final rankings in some of the main categories.

Ballon d’Or winners with the most appearances for their senior national teams:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 233 matches

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 207 matches

3. Luka Modrić (Croatia) – 202 matches

4. Lothar Matthäus (West Germany / Germany) – 150 matches

5. Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) – 136 matches

Ballon d’Or-winning players with the most goals for their senior national teams:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 146 goals

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 125 goals

3. Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 68 goals

4. Ronaldo (Brazil) – 62 goals

5. Bobby Charlton (England) – 49 goals

Ballon d’Or’s winners with the most titles for their national teams:

1. Bobby Charlton (England) – 11 titles

2. Stanley Matthews (England) – 9 titles

3. Denis Law (Scotland) – 6 titles

4. Ronaldo (Brazil) – 5 titles

5. Kevin Keegan (England) / Lionel Messi (Argentina) / Rivaldo (Brazil) – 4 titles