6. Italy – 5 times
Player | Team | Year |
Omar Sivori | Juventus | 1961 |
Gianni Rivera | AC Milan | 1969 |
Paolo Rossi | Juventus | 1982 |
Roberto Baggio | Juventus | 1993 |
Fabio Cannavaro | Real Madrid | 2006 |
Five different Italian players have won the award on different occasions. The first player to win it was Omar Sivori of Juventus in 1961 and Gianni Rivera of AC Milan made in two for Italy in 1969.
The next two Italians to win the award were also Juventus players. The first was Paolo Rossi in 1982 and the second was Roberto Baggio in 1993. Rossi was highest scorer of 1982 World Cup and helped Italy to win the cup.
The last Italian to win the award was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. He is the only defender to win the award. Although Cannavaro was a Real Madrid player when he received the award, he had played the first half of 2006 with Juventus. Juventus and AC Milan are also the clubs who have won the Ballon d’Or the most.