British Ballon d’Or winners ranked

Harry Kane’s emotional triumph means there have now been seven British Ballon d’Or winners and we’ve decided to rank them, based on their exploits in the season of their success.

Comparing star players across different generations is obviously just a matter of opinion, but here’s our view, in reverse order:

Michael Owen

7. MICHAEL OWEN (2001)

Owen was rewarded for a remarkable season with Liverpool in which he helped inspire FA Cup , League Cup and UEFA Cup glory, picking up the sport’s most prestigious individual honour at the tender age of 22.

A late brace at the Millennium Stadium downed Arsenal to win the FA Cup and that was followed by decisive goals in Charity Shield and Super Cup triumphs later in the same year to earn Owen , who scored 24 times in the 2000-01 campaign, this gong ahead of Raul .

Denis Law

6. DENIS LAW (1964)

The Scotland ace enjoyed a prolific campaign for Manchester United in 1963-64, netting 46 times in all competitions, which still stands as a club record. Although the Red Devils did not win a trophy that season, Law’s efforts laid the platform for a first title triumph since the Munich air disaster the following term, during which he claimed 28 league strikes and 39 overall.

Kevin Keegan

5. KEVIN KEEGAN (1978 and 1979)

Keegan finished runner-up in 1977 after winning the European Cup and league title with Liverpool , but was named European Player of the Year in 1978 in his first year in Germany with Hamburg .

A year later, his 17 goals inspired a first Bundesliga success for that club in 19 seasons and more Ballon d’Or celebrations, with Keegan at that point joining just Alfredo di Stefano , Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff as a multiple winner.

Sir Stanley Matthews

4. SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS (1956)

The first recipient of the Ballon d’Or was England’s wing wizard, who received the honour two months before his 42nd birthday. Three years on from inspiring Blackpool to FA Cup success in ‘the Matthews final’, he beat Real Madrid great Di Stefano by three votes to claim the inaugural European Footballer of the Year prize.

Harry Kane

3. HARRY KANE (2026)

Kane scored an incredible 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country during the 2025-26 season, helping Bayern Munich complete a domestic treble and reach the Champions League semi-finals before leading England to third place at the World Cup.

Six goals in seven games at that tournament made it 12 in 14 England matches overall and he won the Bundesliga Golden Boot with 36 strikes in 31 outings, almost double the scoring tally of nearest challenger Deniz Undav , who notched 19 for Stuttgart .

Sir Bobby Charlton

2. SIR BOBBY CHARLTON (1966)

England hero Charlton was awarded the Ballon d’Or months after he starred in home World Cup glory, edging out Benfica and Portugal great Eusebio by one vote, with Beckenbauer back in third.

A brace in the semi-final against Portugal played a vital role in Alf Ramsey’s team going all the way, and this followed a productive First Division campaign in which he scored 16 times for Manchester United during runs to the last four of the FA Cup and European Cup.

George Best

1. GEORGE BEST (1968)

The mercurial Northern Ireland winger had already risen to fame due to his talents and showmanship on the pitch and incredible charisma off it, being dubbed ‘the fifth Beatle’, but the 1967-68 campaign was his breakout season in terms of productivity.

At the age of 22, Best netted 28 times in the old First Division and came to the fore in the latter stages of Manchester United’s European Cup triumph, grabbing the only goal in a semi-final first-leg win over Real Madrid at Old Trafford.

The ‘ Belfast Boy ’ backed that up with a crucial assist in a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu and then put United ahead in extra-time in the famous 4-1 final triumph over Benfica , dribbling through the defence and rounding the keeper before finishing off one of football’s most iconic goals.

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