Footballers Who Won Both the Ballon d’Or and the Golden Shoe
In the long and rich history of football, only seven players have managed to win both the Ballon d'Or and the European Golden Shoe. These two awards represent the pinnacle of individual achievement—one for being the world's best player and the other for being the most prolific goalscorer in Europe. This list highlights the legends who accomplished both feats, starting from the most recent.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or twice, first in 1997 and again in 2002. His Golden Shoe came in the 1996/97 season when he scored 34 goals in La Liga, showcasing one of the greatest individual campaigns in football history.
Marco van Basten
Marco van Basten claimed the Ballon d'Or three times in 1988, 1989, and 1992, during his time at Ajax and AC Milan. He secured the Golden Shoe in the 1985/86 season after scoring 37 league goals for Ajax.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards between 2009 and 2023. He also holds six Golden Shoe titles, with his most famous season being 2011/12 when he scored 50 goals in La Liga.
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Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov won the Ballon d'Or in 1994 following a standout year with Barcelona and a strong World Cup run with Bulgaria. He earned the Golden Shoe earlier in 1989/90 after scoring 38 goals for CSKA Sofia.
Gerd Muller
Gerd Muller was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1970 after his outstanding performances for West Germany and Bayern Munich. He won the Golden Shoe twice, in the 1969/70 and 1971/72 seasons, scoring 38 and 40 goals respectively.
Eusebio
Eusebio won the Ballon d'Or in 1965 following his exploits with Benfica and the Portuguese national team. He won the Golden Shoe twice, in the 1967/68 and 1972/73 seasons, becoming the award's first-ever recipient.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has five Ballon d'Or titles to his name, earned between 2008 and 2017. He also won the Golden Shoe four times, with victories in 2007/08, 2010/11, 2013/14, and 2014/15, reflecting his remarkable goalscoring consistency.
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