Ballon d'Or Winners by Position

Do you know no fullback has ever won the Ballon d'Or? Yes, you heard it right. The most prestigious individual award in football will be announced on 28 October. Before we predict this year's winner, let's look at the previous male winners by position.

Since the inauguration of awards in 1956, only one goalkeeper has ever won the elusive trophy. The Soviet Union sweeper-keeper Lev Yashin won the Ballon d'Or way back in 1963.

Interestingly, only three centrebacks have won the trophy in the over 60-year history of the awards. Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer won it twice, and Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to put his hands on the trophy in 2006.

Midfielders have won it 12 times, with Luka Modric being the latest in 2018.

Unsurprisingly, forwards dominate the awards with 50 wins. Lionel Messi has won the awards most times, with eight, and Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the chart with five.