Who Is The Youngest Ballon d’Or Winner
He received this prestigious award in 1997, at 21 years and 92 days. So who is the youngest Balloon d’Or winner? It is Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Lima, the youngest person to have received the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo made the long journey from South America to Europe when he joined PSV Eindhoven. He was also part of the Brazil national team squad, which was the champion of the 1994 World Cup (though he never featured in the USA). He began conquering Dutch defenses by netting 54 goals in the first 57 matches of his European soccer career.
Barcelona made a world-breaking decision ($20 million) to bring him to Camp Nou for the 1996-97 season. Although his stay in Catalonia only lasted a single campaign, the fact that he left behind a legacy few can match was a testament to his talents.
Once more, he adapted seamlessly and with no apprehension about facing tougher competition: Spanish league (La Liga) defenders across the nation never seemed to match up. He managed to score an impressive 47 goals in 49 games.
Who Is The Youngest Balloon d’Or Winner
FIFA declared him the world’s best player halfway through the season. However, his prowess couldn’t power Barcelona to the league title. They finished the season as the first runner-up, losing the title by just two points to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s spectacular season consisted of nine goals in five games that helped win the Spanish Cup and five goals in seven matches that took the Catalan club to victory in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. He also scored five goals for Brazil in four appearances in 1996.
Ronaldo then scored five goals while his Brazil team won the Copa America. His second world-record transfer ($28 million) came in the summer of 1997 when he moved to Inter Milan.
In Ronaldo’s first season, he converted 34 goals in all competitions, which helped the Italian club win the UEFA Cup. He received the Ballon d’Or in Milan, becoming the youngest player to receive the honor. He also defended his FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo’s Struggle: Battling Injuries
In his second year at Inter Milan, Ronaldo suffered a flurry of injuries that would alter his trajectory in a memorable career. The most spine-chilling injury to the soccer legend was the one that kept him out of the entire 2000/01 season.
After his recovery, he enjoyed great success, scoring eight goals in the 2002 World Cup which Brazil won. Such outstanding performances propelled him to Real Madrid, which acquired him to form part of their star-studded lineup. On top of that, he won his second Ballon d’Or and third FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo’s outstanding goalscoring record of 388 goals in 564 matches was spread over two continents and four different countries. Although Ronaldo won only two league titles with Real Madrid in the 2002-03 and 2006-07 seasons, the Brazilian icon won many competitions with the four major clubs he signed with across Europe.
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