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since when a french has not won it

From Stanley Matthews in 1956, the year of the first presentation of the mythical individual award, to Lionel Messi in 2019 – the 2020 edition was canceled due to a year truncated by the Covid-19 pandemic – 44 players won the Ballon d’Or at least once in their career. Among them, four French: Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinédine Zidane.

3rd of the first two editions, In total, then attacking midfielder of Real Madrid, receives the trophy rewarding the best European player playing in a European club on his third try, in 1958. Another Frenchman appears on the podium that year, Just Fontaine (Stade de Reims), who has just set a record that is still valid: 13 goals in a single World Cup – the Blues take 3rd place in Sweden.

Kopa will be on the podium again the following year after joining Reims, with a 2nd place behind the Spaniard Alfredo Di Stefano (Real). It will then be necessary to wait 18 years old to see a Frenchman again in the top three : Michel Platini ranks behind the Danish Allan Simonsen (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and the English Kevin Keegan (Hamburg) when he was only 22 years old and playing at AS Nancy-Lorraine. “Platoche” will still be 3rd in 1980 when he joined AS Saint-Étienne.

Platini, first to win the treble in a row

In 1982, it was Alain Giresse (Girondins de Bordeaux) who came close to the coronation: 2nd behind the Italian striker Paolo Rossi (Juventus Turin). Platini is back on the “box” in 1983, this time on the highest step. He shines under the colors of Juve. An era is dawning. The number 10 receives the Ballon d’Or three times in a row with two new coronations in 1984 (in front of Jean Tigana) and 1985.

Six years later, Jean-Pierre Papin accedes to the throne despite the cruel defeat of OM in the Champions League final against the Red Star of Belgrade). His teammate in Blue Eric Cantona will not do better than 3rd in 1993 while he is adored by the public of Manchester United.

A single coronation for Zidane

The year 1995 marks a turning point. From now on, every player playing in Europe, whatever his nationality, can claim the Ballon d’Or. The Liberian George Weah (PSG then AC Milan) immediately took advantage of this opening of the borders. In a context of heightened competition, Zinédine Zidane climbs the podium for the first time in 1997 : 3rd behind the Brazilian Ronaldo (FC Barcelona then Inter Milan) and the Yugoslav Predrag Mijatovic (Real Madrid).

His two goals in the World Cup final 1998 against Brazil with the France team extinguishing any debate a year later: “Zizou” is crowned best player in the world. With 244 points, the native of Marseille leaves only crumbs to others. The Croatian Davor Suker (Real) in harvest 68, the Brazilian Ronaldo 66. But if he is not neither at the peak of his art nor yet a “galactic” of Real – he will leave Juve in 2001 – Zidane will not win another Ballon d’Or.

Henry, Ribéry and Griezmann on the podium

Crowned European champion with the France team in 2000, the slightly more pronounced bald maestro is indeed slightly ahead of the Portuguese Luis Figo (197 points against 181), who has not yet won any major title. that year, neither with his selection, nor with Barça then Real at the end of the year. This third podium in four years will even be his last.

In 2003, it’s Thierry Henry (Arsenal) which passes very close to the coronation with a 2nd place behind the Czech Pavel Nedved. The top scorer in the history of the Blues took 3rd place in 2006, ahead of two of the Italian world champions, Fabio Cannavaro (Juve and Real) and Gianluigi Buffon (Juve).

Two French people have since managed to take 3rd place: Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) en 2013, Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid) in 2016 and 2018. In this year of the second world title of the Blues, it is the Croatian Luka Modric (Real) who wins the bet, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (Real). Kylian Mbappé (PSG) takes 4th place, then 6th in 2019. He is still among the 30 appointed in 2021, with Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté.

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