Brazilian icon Pelé and Argentina’s Diego Maradona are widely regarded as two of the greatest footballers ever to grace the game. Both achieved extraordinary success, inspired millions of supporters and helped shape football history through their performances on the international stage. Yet neither won the Ballon d’Or during his playing career. The reason had little to do with their ability; instead, the award’s eligibility rules prevented them from competing for the honour during their prime years.
Introduced in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or was initially restricted to European players. This meant that footballers from outside Europe, regardless of their achievements or standing in the game, were ineligible. Pelé, who represented Brazil, and Maradona, who played for Argentina, were therefore excluded from consideration despite their remarkable careers.
The 1995 rule change opened the door
A significant change came in 1995, when the award became open to players of any nationality, provided they played for a European club. The revised rules allowed footballers from across the world to compete for the prize, although the requirement to play in Europe remained.
That year, Liberian striker George Weah became the first non-European player to win the Ballon d’Or. He was playing for AC Milan at the time, and his achievement marked a turning point in the award’s history.
Other non-European stars subsequently followed in his footsteps. Brazilian greats Ronaldo Nazário, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaká all won the award, reflecting the growing international influence of footballers who had established themselves in European leagues.
However, the change arrived too late for Pelé, who had retired from professional football in 1977, and did not resolve the nationality restriction that had prevented Maradona from being eligible during his best years.
A global award from 2007
The Ballon d’Or underwent another major change in 2007, when eligibility was extended to players of any nationality playing for clubs anywhere in the world. This removed the geographical restriction that had previously excluded footballers competing outside Europe.
Lionel Messi later became one of the most prominent beneficiaries of the award’s expanded eligibility. In 2023, he claimed his eighth Ballon d’Or while playing for Inter Miami in the United States. The award recognised his performances during the preceding season, particularly his leading role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Messi’s achievement illustrated how the Ballon d’Or had evolved from a European-focused award into a global recognition of individual excellence.
Why Pelé never won
Pelé spent much of his career with Brazilian club Santos, where his extraordinary goalscoring ability and technical brilliance made him an international sensation. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, becoming the only player to have won the men’s tournament three times.
Despite those achievements, he was never eligible for the Ballon d’Or under its original rules. His career was largely based in Brazil, and the award did not recognise non-European players at the time.
Towards the end of his career, Pelé moved to the United States to play for the New York Cosmos. He retired from professional football in 1977, nearly two decades before the 1995 eligibility reform.
By the time the award began recognising players of all nationalities who competed for European clubs, Pelé’s playing career was already over. The opportunity to win the trophy during his professional years had passed.
Maradona faced the same obstacle
Maradona enjoyed successful spells at several prominent European clubs, including Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla. His time at Napoli was particularly memorable, as he helped the Italian side win its first Serie A title in the 1986–87 season and another championship in 1989–90.
His greatest international achievement came at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. As Argentina’s captain, Maradona delivered a series of outstanding performances that helped his country lift the trophy. His influence throughout the tournament cemented his reputation as one of football’s most gifted and charismatic players.
Nevertheless, playing for European clubs did not make him eligible for the Ballon d’Or. Under the rules then in force, the award remained restricted to European footballers.
Maradona’s career also included significant controversies. In 1991, he received a 15-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine. He subsequently left European club football and returned to Argentina in 1993. These events formed part of his career, but the central reason he never won the Ballon d’Or remained the award’s eligibility rules.
Historical recognition came later
The absence of Ballon d’Or titles from Pelé’s and Maradona’s records has long been a talking point among football supporters. In 2016, France Football revisited the award’s history and examined how its earlier winners might have differed if non-European players had been eligible from the beginning.
The retrospective assessment suggested that Pelé could have won the award on several occasions under alternative eligibility rules. However, this was a historical exercise rather than an official change to the original winners’ records.
Neither Pelé nor Maradona was subsequently added to the list of official Ballon d’Or winners for his playing career.
Their stories demonstrate how award regulations can influence the historical record. Both players achieved success that transcended individual honours, from World Cup victories to defining performances at club level.
Had the Ballon d’Or adopted broader eligibility rules earlier, the two legends might have had the opportunity to compete for the prize. Their absence from its list of winners, however, does not diminish their standing in football history. Their achievements, influence and enduring popularity continue to place them among the sport’s most celebrated figures.
