Ballon d'Or Winners Playing Position
Which position did the winner of the men's Ballon d'Or play? In Ballon d'Or history, only one goalkeeper (Lev Yashin) and four defenders (Franz Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer and Fabio Cannavaro) have won the award - the vast majority of winners have been forwards.
This raises the question: why is it so hard for defenders and goalkeepers to win the Ballon d’Or? One of the main reasons is because attacking players tend to grab the headlines. See the list below to see how dominant the attackers are.
List of Winners by Position (including 2024)
Categorizing Ballon d'Or winners by playing position presents several challenges. Many modern players have versatile roles and frequently switch positions. Also, traditional positions have evolved or disappeared due to changes in football tactics. Players now fulfill hybrid roles, making it difficult to fit them into conventional categories. We have used the generally accepted playing positions of the Ballon d'Or winners, though different analysts, fans, or organizations may classify each player differently. In any case, it is obvious that attackers are more likely to win.
| Position | Winners |
|---|---|
| Forwards | 43 |
| Attacking midfielders | 9 |
| Wingers | 7 |
| Centre-back | 4 |
| Central midfielders | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | 1 |
| Full-back | 0 |
Related Pages
- Why is it so hard for defenders and goalkeepers to win the Ballon d’Or?
- Ballon d'Or Home
- Ballon d'Or winners by Nationality
- Ballon d'Or Honorary Awards
- The Super Ballon d'Or
- Ballon d'Or History
- Ballon d'Or Trivia
- Football Awards Lists
- More Soccer Winners Lists
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
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