Manchester United Ballon d’Or winners: Remembering the famous four

Previous Manchester United Ballon d'Or winners fall into two distinct eras, namely the 1960s and 2000s.

Surprisingly, even with the Red Devils' dominance in the 1990s, that decade didn't see a United player receive a Ballon d'Or trophy. But the players of that era deserve recognition too, and here we will look back at those United icons who claimed gold, silver or bronze in the race to be the very best of the best.

Manchester United Ballon d'Or Winners – the complete list

Denis Law (1964)

Law's goal-scoring prowess was unmatched during this era, and his impact on British football was truly remarkable. To claim the prestigious award, Law had to overcome stiff competition from some of the greatest players of the time, including Eusebio and Gianni Rivera. Law's victory highlighted his exceptional skill in front of goal and established him as one of the finest footballers of his generation.

While United won no trophies in 1964, the Scotland international was consistently brilliant. That year, his standout moment on the big stage was a hat-trick against Sporting Lisbon in a European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final in front of 60,000 fans at Old Trafford.

Sir Bobby Charlton (1966)

The late ‘Sir Bobby', who passed away on 21 October 2023, was known for his versatility in midfield and his extraordinary long-range shooting. His performances were nothing short of sensational, both for club and country, as England won the World Cup in the same year. Charlton's remarkable abilities on the pitch made him a national hero, and his contributions to England's World Cup victory were unforgettable.

The year 1966 was stellar for global football talent, with Eusebio and Franz Beckenbauer vying for the award. Charlton and Eusebio went head-to-head in the semi-final of the World Cup, with the Englishman coming out on top and scoring twice, including a powerful drive from the edge of the area, to seal a 2-1 win for the Three Lions at a jubilant Wembley.

George Best (1968)

Best was often described as the “fifth Beatle” due to his rock-star-like charisma on and off the pitch. His dribbling skills, flair, and creativity made him one of the most entertaining players of all time. To win the Ballon d'Or in 1968, Best faced competition from his Manchester United teammate Charlton, alongside other top talents. This highlights the remarkable depth and quality within the Manchester United squad during that era.

Their fine run to European Cup glory that year featured many magical moments from Best. He surely sealed the deal in terms of winning the Ballon d'Or by rounding Jose Henrique in the Benfica goal to put his side in front in the final of the competition at Wembley in May 1968.

Cristiano Ronaldo (2008)

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Ballon d'Or victory in 2008 marked the end of a 40-year wait for a Manchester United player to claim the coveted prize. The Portuguese superstar had come close the previous year, but he used that near-miss as motivation to deliver an extraordinary season in 2007/08.

His closest competitors that year included Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres. Messi, who was emerging as a phenomenon, and Torres, a clinical striker for Liverpool, showcased the level of competition Ronaldo overcame to clinch the award.

As English and European champions, it was no surprise to see the award go to one of Sir Alex Ferguson's players though. Ronaldo was always the outstanding candidate and he scored in that year's Champions League final against Chelsea, with a trademark leap and bullet header to convert a cross from Wes Brown.

Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or journey didn't end in 2008 though, as he went on to win the award four more times, establishing himself as one of the greatest footballers in history.

Even at the age of 39, he's still going strong and still scoring goals for Al Nassr and the Portuguese national team. He has netted an incredible 133 international goals in 216 appearances for his country, but is highly unlikely to add to his five Ballon d'Or wins at this advanced stage in his career.

Which Manchester United players nearly won the Ballon d'Or?

In addition to the four United players who won the prestigious trophy outright, a number have finished in the top three, only narrowly missing out on being crowned the best player in the world.

Duncan Edwards – third (1957)

In the Ballon d'Or's second year, European Cup-winning Real Madrid's Alfredo Di Stefano won the trophy by some margin, but Englishmen Billy Wright and Duncan Edwards finished in the top three.

The latter was just 21 years old and an incredibly gifted left-sided player, who played a huge part in United's back-to-back league titles of 1956 and 1957. Tragically, Edwards would die as a result of injuries sustained in the Munich air disaster only two months after the 1957 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Sir Bobby Charlton – second (1967 & 1968)

Having won the trophy in England's World Cup winning year of 1966, Bobby Charlton remained one of the dominant forces in world football for the remainder of the decade.

He was pipped to the Ballon d'Or by Florian Albert of Ferencvaros in 1967, and he finished second again in a Manchester United one-two in 1968, behind Best, as the European Cup winners dominated the awards ceremony in Paris.

George Best – third (1971)

Best also finished in the top three in 1971, as the equally-stylish Johan Cruyff won the award for the first time. Five of Best's nine international goals for Northern Ireland came in the calendar year of 1971, when he was still at the peak of his powers in a club shirt.

Best would go on to score 27 times for Manchester United in the 1971/72 season, which would prove to be the final campaign where he was a truly world-class performer.

Eric Cantona – third (1993)

United fans would have to wait 22 years to see one of their own in serious Ballon d'Or contention again. It was another dazzling Old Trafford icon who came close in 1993, with Cantona finishing behind Roberto Baggio and Dennis Bergkamp in the voting.

Having joined from Leeds the previous year, Cantona proved the final piece in Sir Alex Ferguson's puzzle, as the Red Devils won the inaugural 1992/93 Premier League, ending the club's 26-year wait for a league title.

Even three decades on from his remarkable first campaign in Manchester, Cantona's name is still frequently chanted on the terraces of Old Trafford. His lasting legacy is not just a result of his impressive contribution, with 82 goals in 185 United appearances overall, but also his enigmatic persona on and off the pitch.

David Beckham – second (1999)

Six years later, Cantona had retired, but Manchester United was very much established as the dominant force in the English game. Following their remarkable treble-winning season, seven of their players were nominated for the 1999 Ballon d'Or.

David Beckham finished the highest of those, but he was pipped to the trophy by Barcelona's Brazilian legend Rivaldo. Not unlike the 2024 award, when European champions Real Madrid put up a number of strong candidates, but the favourite according to the Ballon d'Or odds Vinicius Junior missed out on the prize, United's treble success was very much seen as a team effort.

Cristiano Ronaldo – second (2007)

Before winning the trophy in 2008, Ronaldo also went mighty close in 2007, which was the first year that both he and Messi seriously challenged for the Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo pipped Messi to second place on the back of a strong 2006/07 season, which saw him score 23 goals for United in all competitions. However, AC Milan's Champions League winner, Kaka, ultimately finished ahead of them both.

Will a Manchester United player win the Ballon d'Or again?

There was never any prospect of a Manchester United player winning the 2024 trophy which developed into a straight race between Vinicius and Rodri. Given the miserable state of the team currently, there is little prospect of a Manchester United player challenging for the trophy in the immediate future.

As only Europa League participants this term and with no major international tournaments in 2025, it's likely to be 2026 at the very earliest before there's any chance of there being another serious United contender for the elusive prize.

Much will depend on how they adapt to life under new boss Ruben Amorim, with the 39-year-old the man tasked with the daunting challenge of resurrecting the club's fortunes, following a decade of decay.