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Golden Ball Winners and the FIFA World Cup
| FIFA World Cup winners are an elite group. And European Player of the Year honors ("Ballon d'Or" or Golden Ball) winners are another rare group - only one player each year. But in spite of history's big-name winners of the Ballon d'Or, a reigning Ballon d'Or winner has never been able to go on to capture the FIFA World Cup. Over the entire history of the award since 1956, see the results below. Some are calling it the "jinx" or "curse" of the Golden Ball. The European Player of the Year announced at the end of the year has never gone on to win the World Cup the following year. By contrast, numerous World Cup winners have then succeeded in capturing the European Player of the Year honors for that same year. The FIFA World Player of the Year Award has been around since 1991, and the same holds true with this award - so far. The awards were merged in 2010 (then unmerged in 2016) - full results are shown in the table below. |
| Year | World Cup Host | World Cup Champion | World Cup Golden Ball | Ballon d'Or Winner (Europe) |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club | FIFA World Player of the Year |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | - | - | - | Stanley Matthews | England | Blackpool | - | - | - |
| 1957 | - | - | - | Alfredo di Stefano | Spain | Real Madrid | - | - | - |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | - | Raymond Kopa | France | Real Madrid | - | - | - |
| 1959 | - | - | - | Alfredo di Stefano | Spain | Real Madrid | - | - | - |
| 1960 | - | - | - | Luis Suarez | Spain | Barcelona | - | - | - |
| 1961 | - | - | - | Omar Sivori | Italy | Juventus | - | - | - |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | - | Josef Masopust | Czech | Dukla, Prague | - | - | - |
| 1963 | - | - | - | Lev Yashin | USSR | Dynamo Moscow | - | - | - |
| 1964 | - | - | - | Denis Law | England | Manchester United | - | - | - |
| 1965 | - | - | - | Eusebio | Portugal | Benfica of Lisbon | - | - | - |
| 1966 | England | England | - | Bobby Charlton | England | Manchester United | - | - | - |
| 1967 | - | - | - | Florian Albert | Hungary | Ferencvaros | - | - | - |
| 1968 | - | - | - | George Best | Northern Ireland | Manchester United | - | - | - |
| 1969 | - | - | - | Gianni Rivera | Italy | AC Milan | - | - | - |
| Year | World Cup Host | World Cup Champion | World Cup Golden Ball | Ballon d'Or Winner (Europe) |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club | FIFA World Player of the Year |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | - | Gerd Muller | Germany | Bayern Munich | - | - | - |
| 1971 | - | - | - | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Ajax Amsterdam | - | - | - |
| 1972 | - | - | - | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | Bayern Munich | - | - | - |
| 1973 | - | - | - | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Barcelona | - | - | - |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | - | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Barcelona | - | - | - |
| 1975 | - | - | - | Oleg Blokhin | USSR | Dynamo Kiev | - | - | - |
| 1976 | - | - | - | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | Bayern Munich | - | - | - |
| 1977 | - | - | - | Allen Simonsen | Denmark | Borussia Moenchengladbach | - | - | - |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | - | Kevin Keegan | England | Hamburger S.V. | - | - | - |
| 1979 | - | - | - | Kevin Keegan | England | Hamburger S.V. | - | - | - |
| 1980 | - | - | - | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | West Germany | Bayern Munich | - | - | - |
| 1981 | - | - | - | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | West Germany | Bayern Munich | - | - | - |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | Paolo Rossi | Paolo Rossi | Italy | Juventus | - | - | - |
| 1983 | - | - | - | Michel Platini | France | Juventus | - | - | - |
| 1984 | - | - | - | Michel Platini | France | Juventus | - | - | - |
| 1985 | - | - | - | Michel Platini | France | Juventus | - | - | - |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | Diego Maradona | Igor Belanov | USSR | Dynamo Kiev | - | - | - |
| 1987 | - | - | - | Ruud Gullit | Netherlands | AC Milan | - | - | - |
| 1988 | - | - | - | Marco Van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan | - | - | - |
| 1989 | - | - | - | Marco Van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan | - | - | - |
| Year | World Cup Host | World Cup Champion | World Cup Golden Ball | Ballon d'Or Winner (Europe) |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club | FIFA World Player of the Year |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Salvatore Schillaci | Lothar Matthaus | West Germany | Inter Milan | - | - | - |
| 1991 | - | - | - | Jean-Pierre Papin | France | Marseille | Lothar Matthaus | West Germany | Inter Milan |
| 1992 | - | - | - | Marco Van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan | Marco Van Basten | Netherlands | AC Milan |
| 1993 | - | - | - | Roberto Baggio | Italy | Juventus | Roberto Baggio | Italy | Juventus |
| 1994 | USA | Brazil | Romario | Hristo Stoichkov | Bulgaria | Barcelona | Romario | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 1995 | - | - | - | George Weah | Liberia | AC Milan | George Weah | Liberia | AC Milan |
| 1996 | - | - | - | Matthias Sammer | Germany | Borussia Dortmund | Ronaldo | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 1997 | - | - | - | Ronaldo | Brazil | Inter Milan | Ronaldo | Brazil | Inter Milan |
| 1998 | France | France | Ronaldo | Zinedine Zidane | France | Juventus | Zinedine Zidane | France | Juventus |
| 1999 | - | - | - | Rivaldo | Brazil | Barcelona | Rivaldo | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 2000 | - | - | - | Luis Figo | Portugal | Real Madrid | Zinedine Zidane | France | Juventus |
| Year | World Cup Host | World Cup Champion | World Cup Golden Ball | Ballon d'Or Winner (Europe) |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club | FIFA World Player of the Year |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club |
| 2001 | - | - | - | Michael Owen | England | Liverpool | Luis Figo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2002 | Korea/Japan | Brazil | Oliver Kahn | Ronaldo | Brazil | Real Madrid | Ronaldo | Brazil | Real Madrid |
| 2003 | - | - | - | Pavel Nedved | Czech Republic | Juventus | Zinedine Zidane | France | Real Madrid |
| 2004 | - | - | - | Andrei Shevchenko | Ukraine | AC Milan | Ronaldinho | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 2005 | - | - | - | Ronaldinho | Brazil | Barcelona | Ronaldinho | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | Zinedine Zidane | Fabio Cannavaro | Italy | Juventus / Real Madrid | Fabio Cannavaro | Italy | Juventus / Real Madrid |
| 2007 | - | - | - | Kaka | Brazil | AC Milan | Kaka | Brazil | AC Milan |
| 2008 | - | - | - | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Manchester United | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Manchester United |
| 2009 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Diego Forlan | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | <-- (See Ballon d'Or) | - | - |
| 2011 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | <-- (See Ballon d'Or) | - | - |
| 2012 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | <-- (See Ballon d'Or) | - | - |
| Year | World Cup Host | World Cup Champion | World Cup Golden Ball | Ballon d'Or Winner (Europe) |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club | FIFA The Best Player |
Country (pink = jinx) |
Club |
| 2013 | - | - | - | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid | <-- (See Ballon d'Or) | - | - |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid | <-- (See Ballon d'Or) | - | - |
| 2015 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | <-- (See Ballon d'Or) | - | - |
| 2016 | - | - | - | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2017 | - | - | - | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Luka Modric | Luka Modric | Croatia | Real Madrid | Luka Modric | Croatia | Real Madrid |
| 2019 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2020 | - | - | - | (none - pandemic) | - | - | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | Bayern Munich |
| 2021 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Paris Saint Germain | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | Bayern Munich |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | Lionel Messi | Karim Benzema | France | Real Madrid | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Paris Saint Germain |
| 2023 | - | - | - | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Inter Miami | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Inter Miami |
The FIFA world player of the Year and European Ballon D'Or were merged beginning in 2010, when Lionel Messi won it for the 2nd straight year. FIFA then created The Best FIFA Player award for 2016, when Cristiano Ronaldo won it. The jinx was almost broken in 2022, when Messi (Ballon d'Or winner from 2021) followed it up with the World Cup victory for Argentina (Qatar 2022). But with the delayed start of the Qatar tournament (November), the reigning Ballon d'Or winner had already been awarded for 2022: Karim Benzema. And the jinx was in. Not only did Benzema fail to lead his team to victory, injury prevented him from even being selected for France in Qatar. And with the Final going into penalties, one wonders what might have been had he been available to play for France (and not been jinxed).
Scores in the World Cup Final
The Final Score on the Day they were Crowned Champion:
2022-- Argentina 3, France 3, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties
2018-- France 4, Croatia 2
2014-- Germany 1, Argentina 0, OT
2010-- Spain 1, Netherlands 0, OT
2006-- Italy 1, France 1, Italy won 5-3 on penalty kicks
2002-- Brazil 2, Germany 0
1998-- France 3, Brazil 0
1994-- Brazil 0, Italy 0, Brazil won 3-2 on penalty kicks
1990-- West Germany 1, Argentina 0
1986-- Argentina 3, West Germany 2
1982-- Italy 3, West Germany 1
1978-- Argentina 3, Netherlands 1, OT
1974-- West Germany 2, Netherlands 1
1970-- Brazil 4, Italy 1
1966-- England 4, West Germany 2, OT
1962-- Brazil 3, Czechoslovakia 1
1958-- Brazil 5, Sweden 2
1954-- West Germany 3, Hungary 2
1950-- Uruguay 2, Brazil 1
1938-- Italy 4, Hungary 2
1934-- Italy 2, Czechoslovakia 1, OT
1930-- Uruguay 4, Argentina 2
In Latin America, the border between soccer and politics is vague. There is a long list of governments that have fallen or been overthrown after the defeat of the national team. - Luis Suarez - 1960 Spain