The 4 Players Who’ve Won The Ballon d’Or At United And The 3 Who Just Missed Out
Unsurprisingly, Manchester United have had players amongst the best in the world during the club’s 2 most successful eras.
Here’s a look at the players who managed to win the Ballon d’Or award while playing for United, and those who finished in the top 3, but just missed out:
Winners
Dennis Law
Year Won: 1964
Denis Law was the first Manchester United player to win the Ballon d’Or, and remains the only Scottish player to win it.
His prolific goal-scoring during the 1963/64 season helped him win the award; He scored 46 goals in 42 games in all competitions, which set a club record for goals in a single season.
He beat Luis Suárez and Amancio to the award, who came second and third respectively.
Sir Bobby Charlton
Year Won: 1966
Sir Bobby became United and England’s second winner of the Ballon D’or award, narrowly beating some great names, Eusébio and Franz Beckenbuaer, who came second and third respectively.
His brilliant performances at club level were helped by his World Cup success with England that year, to secure him the award.
He remained one of the world’s dominant players, and actually finished second in the next two Ballon d’Or votes (1967 and 1968).
George Best
Year Won: 1968
George Best is one of the best and most exciting Man United players of all time, and in 1968 he became the third United player to win the Ballon d’Or award.
His rock-star lifestyle off the pitch didn’t stop him becoming the best player in the world in the 1967/68 season for United, with 32 goals in 53 games and a vital role in United’s first European cup win.
He beat teammate Charlton and Dragan Džajić to the award, who came second and third respectively.
Best also finished third in the 1971 Ballon d’Or voting.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Year Won: 2008
Although he won the rest while at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo won the first of his 5 Ballon d’Or awards at United in 2008, ending a 40-year wait for a Manchester United player to win the coveted prize.
His 2007/08 season with United was incredible; He scored 42 goals in 49 games in all competitions, and played a key part in United’s Premier League and Champions League double.
He had missed out to Kaká the year before, as he finished second, and he also came second to Lionel Messi in 2009.
He was a Madrid player by the time the voting was done for the 2009 award, but his second-place finish was a result of his performances for United in the 2008/09 season.
Near Misses
Duncan Edwards
Highest Finished: 3rd in 1957
Duncan Edwards almost became United’s first winner of the Ballon d’Or, and only the second ever winner of the award, back in 1957; He finished joint third in the voting with Raymond Kopa, with Billy Wright and Alfredo Di Stéfano finishing second and first respectively.
Edwards had played a vital role in United’s back-to-back league titles in 1956 and 1957, and was considered an incredibly gifted player at just 21 years old.
Just two months after the ceremony, he was tragically killed as a result of his injuries from the Munich Air Disaster.
Eric Cantona
Highest Finished: 3rd in 1993
The iconic Eric Cantona came close to winning the Ballon d’Or award in 1993, when he finished third, behind Dennis Bergkamp and Roberto Baggio.
His arrival to Old Trafford in 1992 proved to be the final piece of Sir Alex Ferguson’s puzzle, as we won the 1992/93 League title, and ended the 26-year wait.
His impact and presence were impossible to ignore, and he was rightfully recognised as one of the world’s top players.
David Beckham
Highest Finished: 2nd in 1999
Becks came very close to winning the prestigious award in 1999, when he finished runner-up to Barcelona’s Rivaldo.
He played a big role in United’s 1998/99 treble winning season, which saw 7 United players nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Maybe I’m biased, but I think Beckham deserved to win the award that year.
Reading about Dennis Law and his 1964 victory brought back so many memories. I remember watching him play like it was yesterday. A truly deserved win, and it’s nice to see him getting recognition.
Does anyone else think that David Beckham’s second-place finish in 1999 was kinda robbed? Still a bit bitter he didn’t win it Rivaldo was good but becks deserved it cause he also won the treble!
Eric Cantona finishing 3rd in ’93… he would win it in today’s game
Totally agree james. With some of the recent winners, Eric would’ve won it in these times
cristiano was unreal that year he won it with us, still gutted he left for madrid
Think prime rooney was unfortunate with the generation he was in, he deserved a higher finish what a player he was for us
These awards always gloss over so many great players. Football’s more than just the glitz and glam of individual trophies.
Best, Law, Charlton – The holy trinity and united royalty!!
Crazy that Busby built a team with those 3 so soon after the air disaster