Kaká Ballon d'Or
Kaká's 2007 Ballon d'Or win marked a milestone for South American footballers without European citizenship.
Kaká won the Ballon d'Or in 2007, becoming the first South American without a European citizenship to claim the award since Ronaldo in 1997. He remains the youngest winner ever at age 22, a record set by Ronaldo.
Quick Facts
- Player
- Kaká
- Role
- Attacking Midfielder; Central Midfielder
- Affiliation
- Brazil National Team (Seleção)
- Award year
- 2007
- Key achievement
- First Brazilian to win the award since Ronaldo in 1997
Lore & Background
The Ballon d'Or is an annual association football award presented by French magazine France Football since 1956. Between 2010 and 2015, it was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year and rebranded as the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi has won a record eight times, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five. Ousmane Dembélé is the current holder, having won the 69th edition in 2025.
Reader's Guide
The Ballon d'Or is awarded based on three criteria: individual performances, team performances and achievements, and class and fair play. Since 2022, the award is based on a football season rather than a calendar year, and an international jury of specialized journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries determines the winner.
Did You Know?
- Kaká was the first South American without a European citizenship to win the Ballon d'Or, following Ronaldo's win in 1997.
- The Ballon d'Or was originally awarded only to European players and was known as the European Footballer of the Year until 1995.
- Stanley Matthews was the inaugural winner in 1956 and remains the oldest winner at age 41.
More in Team History & Eras
Elsewhere in Brazil National Team
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