The Ballon d’Or 2005 Rankings Revealed remain one of the most memorable lists in football history.
It is no secret that the Ballon d’Or is not awarded based on statistics alone, but rather on a series of precise criteria that reflect France Football’s philosophy in evaluating both individual brilliance and collective contribution.
In 2005, the award was presented for the 50th time, and that year featured a host of the game’s biggest stars competing for the prestigious honor.
Who Was Crowned Ballon d’Or 2005?
Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho has officially been crowned European Footballer of the Year for 2005, beating Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard to the prestigious Ballon d’Or
Ronaldinho was a clear winner from the shortlist announced by France Football magazine. Lampard finished second after guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title, while Gerrard came third on the back of Liverpool’s dramatic UEFA Champions League triumph.
This latest accolade adds to Ronaldinho’s growing list of honors. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and also claimed the FIFPro World Player award earlier this year. His dazzling form for both Barcelona and Brazil over the past 12 months has convinced many that he is the best player in the world right now.
Ronaldinho – Ballon d’Or Winner 2006: Why He Deserved It
The gifted playmaker was instrumental in leading Barcelona to the La Liga title last season, while also playing a key role in Brazil’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Since arriving at Camp Nou from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, Ronaldinho has been central to the club’s revival and is now tipped to retain his FIFA crown.
The award, presented in Paris for the 50th time, was a special moment for Ronaldinho.
“To be here with all those great players applauding me is a dream come true,” he said after lifting the trophy. “This gives me motivation to keep working hard and follow in their footsteps. Football allows me to do what I love, bring joy to people, and enjoy myself at the same time.”
Arsenal’s Thierry Henry once again missed out on the top prize, finishing fourth, while Chelsea captain John Terry shared tenth place with Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o.
Full Ballon d’Or 2005 Rankings: Top 10 Players
Here are the Ballon d’Or 2005 Rankings Top 10 — who finished among the best that year, as per votes.
| Rank | Player | Club(s) in 2005 | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronaldinho | Barcelona | Brazil | 225 |
| 2 | Frank Lampard | Chelsea | England | 148 |
| 3 | Steven Gerrard | Liverpool | England | 142 |
| 4 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal | France | 41 |
| 5 | Andriy Shevchenko | Milan | Ukraine | 33 |
| 6 | Paolo Maldini | Milan | Italy | 23 |
| 7 | Adriano | Inter | Brazil | 22 |
| 8 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | Juventus | Sweden | 21 |
| 9 | Kaká | Milan | Brazil | 19 |
| 10 | Samuel Eto’o | Barcelona | Cameroon | 18 |
| 10 | John Terry | Chelsea | England | 18 |
Additional Notes on Ballon d’Or 2005 Rankings
Pure attacking dominance: Ballon d’Or 2005 Rankings (Ronaldinho, Lampard, Gerrard, Henry, Shevchenko) were all taken by forwards or attacking midfielders, unlike other editions that featured defenders or goalkeepers.
First Brazilian winner since Rivaldo: After Ronaldo (1997 and 2002) and Rivaldo (1999), it was Ronaldinho’s turn, confirming Brazil’s continued strength in individual awards on the global stage.
Disappointment for Thierry Henry: Despite reaching the Champions League final in 2006 later on, 2005 was a tough year for Henry in terms of individual honors, as he finished fourth—far behind the top three.
