The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious award that can be awarded to a footballer on an individual level.

Players who can win this coveted award have splendid careers decorated with numerous titles.

Generally, the award isn’t selective; it can be awarded to Goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. However, the attackers seem to dominate the Ballon D’or history because they often get all the goals and assists.

In this article, we will look at some of the best players to have won the Ballon d’Or. Specifically, we will focus on the left footers.

One enormously talented left-footer who will not be on our list is Mesut Ozil. The eagle-eyed midfielder was a star at the 2010 World Cup.

However, his star has waned since he left Arsenal, with the midfielders increasingly diving into esports (with amazing esports opportunities provided on bookmaker.xyz/esportsbookmaker.xyz/esports)

Alright, in this article, we’re going to discuss five of the best left-footers to have won the award.

Lionel Messi

It’s impossible to talk about the Ballon D’or without mentioning Lionel Messi. He has dominated the award in lengths.

When writing this article, he has a whopping 7 Ballon D’or awards, two clear of his closest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Of course, it’s public knowledge that the Argentine is a left-footer, operating majorly from the right flank. Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 at 22 years old, making him one of the youngest to win the award.

During his illustrious career, Messi has amassed 41 titles for club and country while also building up a portfolio of personal awards, including five golden boots, 1 FIFA player of the year award, a La Liga Player of the year, and many more.

He is arguably the most prolific left-footer on the planet.

Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira

Rivaldo is one of the few left-footers to win the Ballon d’Or. The Brazillian majorly played in an attacking midfield position, but he occasionally played as a second striker.

Rivaldo received his Ballon d’Or award in 1999 and doubled up with a FIFA World Player of the Year.

To clinch the award, Rivaldo won a La Liga title with Barcelona and finished the season as the league’s second goal scorer with 24 goals.

In the same year, he won the Ballon d’Or; Rivaldo also clinched the Copa America with Brazil, where he was awarded the Player of the Tournament.

He hung up his boots in 2013 with his native club Sao Caetano.

Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé

Yet another Argentine finds its way into our list of best left-footed footballers to have won the Ballon d’Or.

Alfredo Di Stefano was a legendary footballer once regarded as the best footballer of all time.

Aside from Messi, Alfredo is the only Argentine to have won the award more than once; he won it twice in 1957 and 1959.

He scored 308 goals throughout his Real Madrid career, winning eighteen trophies in eleven seasons.

Aside from his double Ballon d’Or, Alfredo Di Stefano is the only Player to be awarded a Super Ballon d’Or.

In 1989, he was awarded the Super Ballon d’Or. That award is probe found in the Real Madrid museum today.

Johan Cryuff

Johan Cryuff is more than a traditional left-footer. Notably, he plays comfortably on both feet.

When you talk about revolutionary football skills, Cruyff is your man. He invented the football philosophy known as “Total Football.”

And Barcelona are forever grateful to him for setting the groundwork for their famous tiki-taka football ideology.

As a player, Johan Cryuff won the Ballon d’Or three times in 1971, 1973, and 1974. He is the only Dutchman to win a triple Ballon d’Or.

During his spell with Barcelona, he won a European Cup, Four La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and four Supercopa de Espana. He is the most decorated Dutchman in football history and an excellent coach.

Kaka

While this list majorly contains dedicated left-footed players to have won the Ballon d’Or list, we will shift a bit to include a prestigious dual footer: Kaka.

At his peak, Kaka was easily one of the best players in the world. He made this evident in 2007 when he clinched his first and only Ballon d’Or.

Kaka’s award was pretty significant because it was the first award that clubs outside UEFA federations were eligible for nomination, and he made good use of that opportunity.

Quite notably, Kaka was the last Player to win the Ballon d’Or before the Messi – Ronaldo dominance began.

Throughout his career, Kaka won the 2002 World Cup, champions league, Serie A, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup, Two Confederations Cups with Brazil, and many more.

To draw the curtains, this is our list of the best-left footers to have ever clinched the Ballon d’Or.

Left-footed players are generally pretty scarce, especially in the Ballon d’Or history books. These players inarguably built a reputation of genius, ruthlessness (in the front of the goal), and flair in football.

We are forever grateful for the sweet memories they dished us on the pitch.