Can you name every Scottish player to win the Ballon d’Or?

Despite helping to invent the sport of Association Football, the Scottish Ballon d’Or winners list if surprisingly short.

Even though passing the ball was invented in Scotland, they have managed much fewer winners of the coveted award than one would expect.

Big sstars like Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness never got their hands on the award, even in the years when non-Europeans were not permitted to win.

Here iis every Scottish player to win the Ballon d’Or, from it’s inception in 1956,all the way to 2023 and beyond.

Scottish Ballon D’or Winners

1. Denis Law (1964)

The first Scottish winner of the Ballon d’Or was also the Second British footballer to win the coveted prize.

Manchester United striker Denis Law scored 28 goals in the 1964 season as he fired Manchester United to the First Division title.

Under Sir Matt Busby, the Scot became the best striker in Europe and legend at Manchester United, even to this day.

He was honoured by Man United by a statue depicting The Holy Trinity, United’s three British Ballon d’Or winners, outside of Old Trafford.

The statue shows Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best celebrating together, commemorating their 1968 European Cup Final victory over Benfica.

His performances in the Football League helped Untied finish second in Division 1,just four points behind winners Liverpool.

He netted 30 times in as many league games, as well as 10 times in 6 FA Cup matches.

They didn’t win any trophies that year, but Manchester United finished second in the league, made it to the FA Cup Semi-finals and the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Denis Law is the first and only Scotsman to hold the Ballon d’Or award, being voted in by France Football magazine ahead of big stars like Luis Suarez, Jimmy Greaves and Eusabio.