The 1972 Ballon d’Or saw a trio of Germans vying for football’s ultimate individual prize. In the process, Franz Beckenbauer became only the second West German national and Bayern Munich player to win the trophy following Gerd Müller in 1970. …
1972 Ballon d’Or Winner: Franz Beckenbauer. The German Three Horse Race Read More »
Gerd Muller is undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers in the history of football. The forward currently sits eighth on a list of the game’s all-time top scorers with 634 goals across his seventeen-year career. And 1970 was no exception. …
1970 Ballon d’Or Winner: Gerd Muller. An Undisputable Champion Read More »
From an early age, the Italian media dubbed Milan’s attacking midfielder Gianni Rivera their nation’s “Golden Boy.” He joined Milan in 1960 as a 17-year-old and would go on to serve as the team’s captain for twelve seasons. Rivera enjoyed …
1969 Ballon d’Or Winner: Gianni Rivera. Italy’s Golden Boy Read More »
The Ballon d’Or is widely considered the pinnacle of individual achievement in football, with the award the football world’s Oscars. To call yourself a Ballon d’Or winner is an incredible achievement, with some of football’s greatest ever-eligible players never winning …
After an incredible 1980 season, that was twice as good as his best season prior to his first Ballon d’Or, he’d go on to improve even further. After 5 seasons of establishing himself, and gradually progressing, Rummenigge had hit his …
1981 Ballon d’Or Winner: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Trounces the Competition Again Read More »
In the year 1980, the football world witnessed the crowning of a true legend, as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed the Ballon d’Or, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s greats. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, born on September 25, 1955, in Lippstadt, West …
1980 Ballon d’Or Winner: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – A Classy Season From an Iconic Forward Read More »
In 1974, Johan Cruyff won his third Ballon d’Or. Only four other players in the history of football have achieved the incredible feat including Michel Platini, Marco van Van Basten, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This particular year, Cruyff faced …
1974 Ballon d’Or Winner: Johan Cruyff, A Celebration Of Total Football Read More »
Oddly, despite the fact that future seasons would hold greater success in terms of honours and individual statistics, Michel Platini‘s first Ballon d’Or win in 1983 was actually his most emphatic. It marked the Frenchman’s biggest margin of victory with …
1983 Ballon d’Or Winner: Michel Platini – A Superstar Is Born Read More »
Paolo Rossi’s 1982 Ballon d’Or win is a story of one man who overcame adversity and against all odds rose to the very top of world football. He became only the third Italian to win the award after Juventus’ Omar …
1982 Ballon d’Or Winner: Paolo Rossi – From Scandal To Superstardom Read More »
Franz Beckenbauer is considered one of the best defenders in the history of world football. The German is also credited with revolutionising the art of modern defending and pioneering the ‘sweeper’ role within the European game. At the age of …
1976 Ballon d’Or Winner: Franz Beckenbauer – The Emperor Of European Football Read More »
