Karim Benzema comes to do for the first time with the prize to the best player of the world that delivers the magazine 'France Football', converting to his time in the fifth player Frenchman in obtaining the esteemed award. Of this way, his name has added to a selecta smart of players that have been recognised with this distinction that along the years has suffered several modifications.
In command of the historical list of winners of the prize finds Lionel Messi. His career has been one of the most successful in the history of the football, having played during the greater part of her in the FC Barcelona and at present in Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentinian star, champion of Europe with the culés in several occasions, went the victorious in the editions of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
The second in the historical podium of the award is Christian Ronaldo, the one who beside 'Leo' would mark one of the best rivalries to individual level in the history of the football, being besides the maximum goleador of the history, so much to level of clubs as in the tournaments of selections. The Portuguese was distinguished like the best footballer of the planet in five opportunities: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
The third stair is occupied by three players that obtained the prize in three opportunities: Marco go Suffice (Milan, 1988, 1989 and 1992), Michel Platini (Juventus 1983, 1984 and 1985) and Johan Cruyff (Ajax and Barça, 1971, 1973, and 1974). To them they follow him, with two trophies, Ronaldo Nazario (Inter of Milan and Real Madrid, 1997 and 2002), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern of Munich, 1980 and 1981), Kevin Keegan (Hamburg, 1978 and 1979), Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern of Munich, 1972 and 1976) and Alfredo gave Stéfano (Real Madrid, 1957 and 1959)
Benzema, the new member of the 'club'
The rest of victorious presents a total of 28 names that accompany to the attacker French after the opening of the same to the players of any nationality: Luka Modric (2018), Kaká (2007), Fabio Cannavaro (2006), Ronaldinho (2005), Andriy Shevchenko (2004), Pavel Nedved (2003), Michael Owen (2001), Luís Figo (2000), Rivaldo (1999), Zinedine Zidane (1998), Matthias Sammer (1996) and George Weah (1995).
When the award limited to European players, the winners were: Hristo Stoichkov (1994), Roberto Baggio (1993), Jean Pierre Papin (1991), Lothar Matthäus (1990), Ruud Gullit (1987), Igor Belanov (1986), Paolo Rossi (1982), Allan Simonsen (1977), Oleg Blokhin (1975), Gerd Müller (1970), Gianni Rivera (1969), George Best (1968), Florian Albert (1967), Bobby Charlton (1966), Eusébio (1965), Denis Law (1964), Lev Yashin (1963), Josef Masopust (1962), Omar Sivori (1961), Luis Suárez (1960), Raymond Kopa (1959) and Stanley Matthews (1956).