Which Manchester United players have won the Ballon d'Or?

The Red Devils have produced quite a few Ballon d’Or winners in their history.

One of the most prosperous football teams in the world, Manchester United have a long tradition of churning out elite players.

The Ballon d’Or is one of the most important individual distinctions in football. It stands out among the many honours and trophies a team’s player receives.

Every year, a group of foreign journalists vote to determine which male football player is the best in the world, and that player receives the award.

Manchester United have nurtured several players who have won this prized honour over the years, solidifying their place among the best players of all time.

It’s surprising that despite the Red Devils’ supremacy in the 1990s, no United player won a Ballon d’Or award during that time. Their first player to win the most prestigious prize was way back in the 1960s.

Which Manchester United players have won the Ballon d’Or?

Manchester United are one of the oldest clubs in the English league. Many players have represented this club throughout their career. Despite being one of the most dominant sides in all competitions, what is surprising is that the club has produced only a handful of Ballon d’Or winners.

There are only four Ballon d’Or winners in the club’s history which is quite shocking given their wealthy history of dominance in the league and European football.

The club’s first-ever coveted prize winner was Denis Law in 1964. Law had an enormous impact on English football and was the greatest goal-scorer of his era. He faced strong competition from some of the best players during his day, such as Eusebio and Gianni Rivera, in order to win the coveted award.

Two years later it was one and only club’s most iconic player Sir Bobby Charlton in 1966. He was well-known for his exceptional long-range shooting and mobility in the midfield. Because of his outstanding efforts, England won the World Cup in the same year.

Two years later it was once again a United player who got his hands on the award. This time it was George Best. Because of his demeanour and quality both on and off the pitch, Best was frequently referred to as the ‘fifth Beatle’. He was one of the most exciting players of all time because of his flair, inventiveness and dribbling abilities. Best competed against his teammate Sir Bobby Charlton to win the award.

United had to wait 40 years for one of their players to win the prize again. It was Cristiano Ronaldo, who finally broke the drought and won his first-ever Ballon d’Or. The former Real Madrid striker enjoyed a brilliant season with the club, winning the Premier League and Champions League.

Ronaldo beat the likes of Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres to win the award in 2008. He finally ended such a long wait to bring the award to the club.

Since then no United player has been able to achieve this mark. The club have also suffered a drastic decline in their performance since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.

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