Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, N’Golo Kanté. They are still three French to be able to climb on the podium of the classification of the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year 2021. The most prestigious individual awards in football will be awarded for the 65th time on Monday, November 29, during a ceremony organized in the evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Since 1956, 44 different players have won the trophy created by France Football magazine. Among them, four French: Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991) and Zinédine Zidane (1998). Seven others passed very close to the coronation: Just Fontaine, Alain Giresse, Jean Tigana, Éric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery and Antoine Griezmann.
Entered and remained in the legend for his record of goals in a final phase of the World Cup with his 13 achievements in Sweden in 1958 – the German Gerd Müller scored at best 10 then in 1970 -, Just Fontaine that year took 3rd place at the Ballon d’Or, behind Kopa and the German Helmut Rahn. Also 3rd in 1956 and 1957, Kopa finished 2nd in 1959.
Giresse and Tigana 2nd in 1982 and 1984
It will then be necessary to wait 18 years to see again a blue-white-red representative back on the “box”: Platini, 3rd in 1977, while playing in Nancy. The number 10 does not do better in 1980, before putting everyone in agreement during his reign from 1983 to 1985, jersey of Juventus Turin and the Blues on the back.
In 1982, Alain Giresse was rewarded after the semi-final of the French team at the Spanish World Cup. The small (1.62 m) midfielder of the Girondins de Bordeaux is only ahead of the Italian striker Paolo Rossi (Juventus Turin), crowned world champion. In 1984, the Blues, crowned European champions at home, achieved the double: Platini 1st, Jean Tigana 2nd – another Bordeaux in the spotlight.
1993: Cantona takes the podium
In 1991, it was therefore the Marseillais Papin who ascended to the throne, despite the defeat of OM against Red Star Belgrade in the final of the European Cup of Champions Clubs. “JPP” is also ahead of the Yugoslavs of the time Dejan Savicevic and Darko Pancev, tied for 2nd place with a third thief, the German Lothar Matthaüs.
Two years later, when only European players can still claim the Ballon d’Or, Eric Cantona slips to 3rd place behind Italian Roberto Baggio (Juventus) and Dutch Dennis Bergkamp (Inter Milan). “Canto” has been reliving for a year and a half under the colors of Manchester United, number 7 on the back, collar turned up.
Henry 2e in 2003, 3e in 2006
1995. Brazilians, Argentines or Liberians, like the winner George Weah (PSG then AC Milan) can now win the Ballon d’Or. In the France team, the Papin-Cantona generation is gradually giving way to the Zidane generation. “Zizou” climbed the podium for the first time in 1997 (3rd), before winning the Grail after the 1998 World Cup and his two goals in the final. He finished 2nd in 2000 behind the Portuguese Luis Figo (Real Madrid).
Thierry Henry also failed in 2nd place in 2003, beaten by the Czech Pavel Nedved (Juventus). He is still playing at Arsenal when he took 3rd place in 2006 behind the Italian world champions Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus then Real Madrid) and Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus).
Ribéry helmed by Ronaldo and Messi
Winner of the Champions League and elected UEFA player just before the presentation of the Ballon d’Or, Franck Ribéry thinks he will be crowned in 2013. Las. Like the Spaniards Fernando Torres, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta before him, the French (23.36% of the vote) is subject to the law of Cristiano Ronaldo (27.99%) and Lionel Messi (24.72%).
It will still be the same for Antoine Griezmann in 2016 : 3rd behind the Portuguese and the Argentinian, however with less tight gaps: 47.85%, 20.30%, 12.72%. Sacred world champion two years later, “Grizou” fails to do better. Croatian Luka Modric is crowned with 26.14% of the vote, ahead of Ronaldo (16.52%). Grizemann (14.37%) suffered in part from the scattering of points among the French: Kylian Mbappé finished 4th (12.04%).
–
– .