WORLD PLAYER % of votes
1982 Paolo Rossi (Juventus & Italy) 23
1983 Zico (Udinese & Brazil) 28
1984 Michel Platini (Juventus & France) 54
1985 Michel Platini (Juventus & France) 21
1986 Diego Maradona (Napoli & Argentina) 36
1987 Ruud Gullit (Milan & Holland) 39
1988 Marco Van Basten (Milan & Holland) 43
1989 Ruud Gullit (Milan & Holland) 24
1990 Lothar Matthaus (Inter & West Germany) 22
1991 Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille & France) 25
1992 Marco Van Basten (Milan & Holland) 19
1993 Roberto Baggio (Juventus & Italy) 14
1994 Paolo Maldini (Milan & Italy) 27
1995 Gianluca Vialli (Juventus & Italy) 18
1996 Ronaldo (Barcelona & Brazil) 17
1997 Ronaldo (Barcelona/Internazionale & Brazil) 27
1998 Zinedine Zidane (Juventus & France) 23
1999 Rivaldo (Barcelona & Brazil) 42
2000 Luis Figo (Barcelona/Real Madrid & Portugal) 26
2001 Michael Owen (Liverpool & England) 31
2002 Ronaldo (Inter/Real Madrid & Brazil) 26
2003 Pavel Nedved (Juventus & Czech Republic) 36
2004 Ronaldinho (Barcelona & Brazil) 29
2005 Ronaldinho (Barcelona & Brazil) 38.9
2006 Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid & Italy) 38.9
2007 Kaka (Milan & Brazil) 52.8
2008 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd & Portugal) 48.4