List of Brazilian Players Who Won the Ballon d’Or

Ronaldo is the second non-European player to win the Ballon d’Or. He was La Lig’`s Pichichi, scored the winner in the Cup Winners’ Cup final against PSG, and topped all Europe’s goal-scorers (34 league goals) and was picked MVP, as he helped Brazil win their 5th Copa America summer 1997.

Ronaldo became the first Brazilian to win the Ballon d’Or twice. Despite not playing for a season and a half, he managed to regain his form and help Brazil win their 5th World Cup and become the first player since Grzegorz Lato in 1974 to score more than six goals in a single World Cup (8 goals)

In 1999, Rivaldo was the key player in Barcelona winning their second league title in a row. He finished only one goal behind Raul in the Pichichi race. He finished the year winning both MVP and the Golden Boot in the 1999 version of Copa America which he helped Brazil win for the 6th time.

In his second year with the team, Ronaldinho’s pace and tricks helped Barcelona end a six-year trophy drought by winning La Liga for the first time since 1999. (See List of goalkeepers who played until their 40s)

Kaka’s performance (highlighted by his solo performance against Manchester United) helped AC Milan win their 7th Champions League. Kaka was the top scorer of this version of the European cup (10 goals) and won both Golden Ball and best player as he helped Milan win the FIFA Club World Cup. (See List of Players who won the Pichichi Trophy Twice or more)