Top four oldest first-time Ballon d'Or winners ft. Harry Kane
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Kane is the newest addition to the list!
Winning the Ballon d’Or is considered one of the top individual achievements in the world of football. Some stars are good enough to bag the award during their twenties; a select group of footballers had to wait until their thirties and beyond to claim the prestigious honour for the first time.
Ronaldo Nazário of Brazil remains the youngest (21 years and 92 days) to clinch the Ballon d’Or, and England legend Sir Stanley Matthews is the oldest to be presented with the honour. Soviet legend Lev Yashin won the award during his thirties and is also the only goalkeeper to win the individual title.
Modern-day stars like Karim Benzema and Harry Kane are on the list as well. This clearly suggests that age is not necessarily a barrier to individual excellence.
List of oldest first-time Ballon d’Or winners
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| Rank | Player | Age | Year of award | Nation |
| 1 | Sir Stanley Matthews | 41 years, 321 days | 1956 | England |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | 34 years, 302 days | 2022 | France |
| 3 | Lev Yashin | 34 years, 56 days | 1963 | Soviet Union (Russia) |
| 4 | Harry Kane | 33 years, 90 days | 2026 | England |
1. Sir Stanley Matthews – 41 years, 321 days
England legend Stanley Matthews holds the record for being the oldest first-time Ballon d’Or winner. He received the inaugural award in 1956 at the age of 41 years and 321 days, following his remarkable performances for Blackpool. Matthews became the first recipient of what was then known as the European Footballer of the Year award.
Playing for Blackpool at that time, Stanley Matthews was known for his extraordinary dribbling ability and longevity. His record still stands even after seven decades.
Also Read: Top 10 countries with most Ballon d’Or winners in history
2. Karim Benzema – 34 years, 302 days
After clinching the award in 2022, Karim Benzema became the second-oldest first-time Ballon d’Or winner at the age of 34 years, 302 days.
The Frenchman displayed top-of-the-line performances for Real Madrid during the 2021-22 campaign. Benzema helped the Spanish giants secure LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League title, scoring 44 goals across all competitions. He played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but only gained individual recognition when the Portuguese talisman left the club.
3. Lev Yashin – 34 years, 56 days
The Soviet Union goalkeeper occupies third place on the list for the oldest first-time Ballon d’Or winners. He claimed the award in 1963 at the age of 34 years and 56 days.
Lev Yashin is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of football. He was a part of Dynamo Moscow throughout his senior club career. The former Soviet professional footballer also remains the only goalkeeper to have won the men’s top individual prize. France Football named its annual award for the world’s best goalkeeper, the “Yashin Trophy”, in his honour.
4. Harry Kane – 33 years, 90 days
Harry Kane is now the fourth-oldest first-time Ballon d’Or winner at the age of 33 years and 90 days in 2026. He added his name to the illustrious list containing names like Sir Stanley Matthews, Karim Benzema and Lev Yashin. This also highlights Kane’s achievement in securing one of the most prestigious honours in football history.
The Englishman had a sensational 2025-26 campaign for Bayern Munich and the England national football team. In total, he scored 73 goals, including all competitions. Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph also proved to be a significant moment for English football, with him becoming the first Englishman to clinch the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
Who is the oldest Ballon d’Or winner?
At 41 years, 321 days, Sir Stanley Matthews remains the oldest to win the honour.
Who are the oldest first-time Ballon d’Or winners?
Stanley Matthews, Karim Benzema, Lev Yashin and Harry Kane.
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