The ceremony of Ballon d’Or is approaching quickly and, with it, the questions that all football fans ask on social networks. Among them: has any player been awarded without having won a title with his team? The question arises because Kylian Mbappe did not win any team titles during the 2025-26 season.
Additionally, as the World Cup ended, the season also ended. Now, all eyes are on the ceremony of the Ballon d’Or, which will be held on October 26and everyone wants to know the winner. But among the questions one arises: can you win without having achieved a single team title during the season?
Against this backdrop, it is worth mentioning that the Ballon d’Or is an award that the French magazine France Football awarded every year, since 1956, to the best footballer of the world. The winner is chosen by a jury made up of specialized journalists representing the top 100 countries in the ranking. FIFA in the men’s category.
Therefore, after 15 years of Lionel’s dominance Messi and Cristiano Ronaldointerrupted by Luka’s triumphs Modric and Karim Benzemathe most recent winners of the Ballon d’Or were the Spanish Rodrigo Hernández and the Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé. For this reason, many consider that the time of the Argentine and the Portuguese is already left behind.
Is it possible to win the Ballon d’Or despite a season without trophies?
According to France Footballa prestigious French sports magazine founded in 1946 and recognized worldwide for creating and awarding the Ballon d’Oryes it is possible to win the award despite completing a season without titles. It has happened before, although not frequently, as there have only been six cases and the most recent was in 2013.
The English footballer Stanley Matthewsone of the figures of British sports, was the first winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1956. However, he was also the first to obtain it without having won a team title during the calendar year, since the award began to be awarded based on the sports season from 2022.
Eight years later, the Scotsman Denis Lawone of the great figures in the 1960s, equaled Stanley Matthews by winning the Ballon d’Or in 1964. The striker, who made his debut for Huddersfield Town and achieved fame in the Manchester Uniteddid not win any title with the Red Devils; but that did not stop him from taking the award.
Later, in 1970, Gerd Müller He became the third footballer to win the Ballon d’Or without having won a team title during that year. The forward went blank with the Bayern Munich and the German team, but his outstanding scoring performance in the World of Mexico It was enough to obtain the award.
Six cases, the last in 2013
Eight years later, in 1978, the English Kevin Keegannicknamed the “Mighty Mouse” and recognized for his dribbling skills, precision and aerial play, won the Ballon d’Or despite not having won any title with Hamburg in Germany. This achievement contributed to consolidate him as one of the best footballers of his generation.
Now, more than two decades had to pass for the Portuguese Luis Figoin it 2000also won the Ballon d’Or despite a season without titles. Furthermore, he achieved it in the year that marked his sporting career, as he went from being the captain of the FC Barcelona to become the main figure of the real Madridthe rival of the culés.
Finally, in the 2013another Portuguese equaled what Luis Figo achieved: Cristiano Ronaldowho later became the captain and all-time top scorer for the Portuguese national team and Real Madrid. Since then, thirteen editions have passed without it happening again, and Kylian Mbappé He seeks to emulate his idol.
Can you win the Ballon d’Or WITHOUT a single team trophy? 🤔
The answer ⤵️#ballondorhttps://t.co/71KX1FTaNw
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) July 26, 2026