My TOP 10 Ballon d'Or 1996

This is my ranking, my opinion on the Ballon d'Or of the year 1996. This ranking is based on the calendar year, not the season. What counts for this ranking is the player's regularity over the calendar year, the number of matches played, the ability to raise his level in big games, statistics (goals, assists, clean sheets, goals conceded, etc.) and trophies won (collective and individual).

In 1996, Alessandro Del Piero delivered a breathtaking calendar year, showcasing his technical mastery, vision, and ability to rise to the occasion in the most demanding moments. As a second striker, he blended elegance, precision, and an innate sense of positioning, making him an indispensable figure for Juventus and the Italian national team. Del Piero’s performances in Serie A and European competitions were pivotal in Juventus’ campaign, where his ability to carve open defenses and deliver decisive goals made him one of the most electrifying players in world football. His attacking presence was instrumental in Juventus’ pursuit of domestic and continental glory. One of the defining moments of Del Piero’s year came in the 1995-96 UEFA Champions League, where he played a crucial role in Juventus’ triumph, helping the club secure its second European Cup. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Vialli, was fundamental in Juventus’ dominant run. His ability to score in key matches and orchestrate attacking sequences made him a cornerstone of Marcello Lippi’s squad.

In 1996, Davor Šuker delivered an extraordinary calendar year, showcasing his clinical finishing, technical brilliance, and ability to rise to the occasion in the most demanding moments. As a striker, he combined elegance, precision, and an instinctive goal-scoring ability, making him an indispensable figure for Sevilla and the Croatian national team. Šuker’s performances in La Liga were pivotal in Sevilla’s campaign, where his ability to carve open defenses and deliver decisive goals made him one of the most electrifying players in Spanish football. His presence in attack was instrumental in Croatia’s international success, and one of the defining moments of his year came in UEFA Euro 1996, where he played a crucial role in Croatia’s impressive run to the quarter-finals. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinečki, was fundamental in Croatia’s strong tournament performance, and his ability to score in key matches—including a stunning goal against Denmark—made him a cornerstone of Miroslav Blažević’s squad. Šuker’s performances throughout 1996 cemented his reputation as one of the most gifted forwards of his generation, setting the stage for his move to Real Madrid later that year and an illustrious career that would see him become a Croatian football legend.

In 1996, Jürgen Klinsmann delivered a remarkable calendar year, showcasing his leadership, goal-scoring prowess, and ability to thrive in high-stakes encounters. As a striker, he combined agility, precision, and an instinctive finishing ability, making him an indispensable figure for Bayern Munich and the German national team. Klinsmann’s performances in the Bundesliga and European competitions were crucial in Bayern’s campaign, where his ability to lead the attack and deliver decisive goals made him one of the most feared forwards in world football. His presence in the final third was instrumental in Bayern Munich’s pursuit of silverware. One of the defining moments of Klinsmann’s year came in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup, where he played a vital role in Bayern’s triumph, helping the club secure the prestigious European title. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Mehmet Scholl and Jean-Pierre Papin, was fundamental in Bayern’s dominant run. His ability to score in key matches and dictate attacking sequences made him a cornerstone of Otto Rehhagel’s squad. Klinsmann’s performances throughout 1996 also extended to the international stage, where he captained Germany to victory in UEFA Euro 1996, securing the nation’s third European Championship title. His leadership and attacking contributions were pivotal in Germany’s success, cementing his status as one of the most influential forwards of his generation. His achievements in 1996 further solidified his legacy as a German football icon.

In 1996, Youri Djorkaeff delivered a spectacular calendar year, showcasing his technical brilliance, versatility, and ability to shine on the biggest stages. As an attacking midfielder, he combined creativity, precision, and an instinctive goal-scoring ability, making him an indispensable figure for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. Djorkaeff’s performances in Division 1 and European competitions were crucial in PSG’s campaign, where his ability to unlock defenses and deliver decisive goals made him one of the most exciting players in world football. His presence in attack was instrumental in PSG’s pursuit of silverware, and one of the defining moments of his year came in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, where he played a vital role in PSG’s triumph, helping the club secure its first European title by defeating Rapid Vienna in the final. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Raí and Patrice Loko, was fundamental in PSG’s dominant run, and his ability to score in key matches and dictate attacking sequences made him a cornerstone of Luis Fernandez’s squad. Djorkaeff’s performances throughout 1996 also extended to the international stage, where he was a key figure in France’s UEFA Euro 1996 campaign. His technical ability and attacking contributions helped France reach the semifinals, further cementing his status as one of the most influential playmakers of his generation. His achievements in 1996 set the stage for an illustrious career that would see him become a vital part of France’s golden era.

In 1996, Marcel Desailly delivered an exceptional calendar year, showcasing his defensive mastery, tactical intelligence, and ability to dominate the midfield with authority. As a defensive midfielder and center-back, he combined physicality, composure, and an innate ability to read the game, making him an indispensable figure for AC Milan and the French national team. Desailly’s performances in Serie A and European competitions were crucial in Milan’s campaign, where his ability to break up opposition attacks and provide stability at the back made him one of the most influential players in world football. His presence in midfield and defense was instrumental in Milan’s pursuit of silverware, and one of the defining moments of his year came in the 1995-96 Serie A season, where he played a vital role in Milan’s triumph, helping the club secure the Italian league title. His contribution in defense, alongside players like Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, was fundamental in Milan’s dominant run, and his ability to lead by example made him a cornerstone of Fabio Capello’s squad. Desailly’s performances throughout 1996 also extended to the international stage, where he was a key figure in France’s UEFA Euro 1996 campaign.

In 1996, Didier Deschamps delivered an exceptional calendar year, showcasing his leadership, tactical intelligence, and ability to control the midfield with precision and composure. As a defensive midfielder, he combined tenacity, vision, and an innate ability to dictate the tempo of matches, making him an indispensable figure for Juventus and the French national team. Deschamps’ performances in Serie A and European competitions were crucial in Juventus’ campaign, where his ability to break up opposition attacks and orchestrate play from deep made him one of the most influential midfielders in world football. His presence in midfield was instrumental in Juventus’ pursuit of silverware, and one of the defining moments of his year came in the 1995-96 UEFA Champions League, where he played a vital role in Juventus’ triumph, helping the club secure its second European Cup by defeating Ajax in the final. His contribution in midfield, alongside players like Antonio Conte and Paulo Sousa, was fundamental in Juventus’ dominant run, and his ability to lead by example made him a cornerstone of Marcello Lippi’s squad. Deschamps’ performances throughout 1996 also extended to the international stage, where he was a key figure in France’s UEFA Euro 1996 campaign. His leadership and defensive contributions helped France reach the semifinals, further cementing his status as one of the most influential midfielders of his generation.

In 1996, Ronaldo Nazário delivered a breathtaking calendar year, showcasing his explosive pace, dazzling dribbling, and clinical finishing that made him one of the most unstoppable forwards in world football. As a striker, he combined raw power, technical brilliance, and an instinctive goal-scoring ability, making him an indispensable figure for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, and the Brazilian national team. Ronaldo’s performances in Eredivisie and later in La Liga were pivotal in his clubs’ campaigns, where his ability to dismantle defenses and deliver decisive goals made him a global sensation. His presence in attack was instrumental in Barcelona’s pursuit of silverware, and one of the defining moments of his year came in the 1996-97 season, where he played a crucial role in Barcelona’s triumphs, helping the club secure the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Luis Enrique and Giovanni, was fundamental in Barcelona’s dominant run, and his ability to score breathtaking solo goals—including his legendary strike against Compostela—made him a cornerstone of Bobby Robson’s squad. Ronaldo’s performances throughout 1996 also extended to the international stage, where he was a key figure in Brazil’s campaign. His technical ability and attacking contributions helped Brazil maintain its dominance, further cementing his status as one of the most electrifying forwards of his generation. However, despite his brilliance, injuries began to take their toll, limiting his consistency and preventing him from reaching even greater heights. His early knee issues, including a diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease during his time at PSV, forced him to miss crucial matches and affected his long-term durability. His achievements in 1996 set the stage for an illustrious career that would see him become one of the greatest players in football history, but his injury struggles meant he was never able to fully sustain his dominance over an extended period.

In 1996, Éric Cantona delivered a commanding calendar year, showcasing his technical brilliance, leadership, and ability to dictate the tempo of matches with his unique style of play. As an attacking midfielder and forward, he combined creativity, precision, and an instinctive ability to influence games, making him an indispensable figure for Manchester United. Cantona’s performances in the Premier League were crucial in United’s campaign, where his ability to unlock defenses and deliver decisive goals made him one of the most influential players in English football. His presence in attack was instrumental in Manchester United’s pursuit of silverware, and one of the defining moments of his year came in the 1995-96 season, where he played a vital role in United’s triumph, helping the club secure the Premier League title and the FA Cup, completing a domestic double. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, was fundamental in United’s dominant run, and his ability to score in key matches—including the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Liverpool—made him a cornerstone of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad. However, despite his brilliance, his absence from the French national team due to managerial decisions meant he was unable to showcase his talents on the international stage at UEFA Euro 1996. His achievements in 1996 further cemented his status as one of the most charismatic and influential figures in football history.

In 1996, Alan Shearer delivered a phenomenal calendar year, showcasing his lethal finishing, physical presence, and ability to dominate the opposition with his goal-scoring prowess. As a striker, he combined power, precision, and an instinctive ability to find the back of the net, making him an indispensable figure for Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, and the England national team. Shearer’s performances in the Premier League were pivotal in his clubs’ campaigns, where his ability to lead the attack and deliver decisive goals made him one of the most feared forwards in world football. His presence in attack was instrumental in England’s international success, and one of the defining moments of his year came in UEFA Euro 1996, where he played a crucial role in England’s run to the semifinals. His contribution in attack, alongside players like Teddy Sheringham and Paul Gascoigne, was fundamental in England’s strong tournament performance, and his ability to score in key matches—including five goals that earned him the Golden Boot—made him a cornerstone of Terry Venables’ squad. His club career also saw a major transition in 1996, as he completed a world-record transfer to Newcastle United for £15 million, marking the beginning of his legendary tenure at his hometown club.

In 1996, Matthias Sammer delivered an extraordinary calendar year, showcasing his defensive brilliance, tactical intelligence, and ability to dictate the rhythm of matches with his commanding presence. As a sweeper and defensive midfielder, he combined composure, vision, and an innate ability to read the game, making him an indispensable figure for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team. Sammer’s performances in the Bundesliga and European competitions were pivotal in Dortmund’s campaign, where his ability to break up opposition attacks and initiate play from deep made him one of the most complete players in world football. His presence in defense was instrumental in Dortmund’s pursuit of silverware, and one of the defining moments of his year came in the 1995-96 Bundesliga season, where he played a crucial role in Dortmund’s triumph, helping the club secure the German league title. His contribution in defense, alongside players like Jürgen Kohler and Stefan Reuter, was fundamental in Dortmund’s dominant run, and his ability to lead by example made him a cornerstone of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s squad. Sammer’s performances throughout 1996 also extended to the international stage, where he was a key figure in Germany’s UEFA Euro 1996 campaign. His leadership and defensive contributions helped Germany secure their third European Championship title, and his ability to control matches from the back earned him the Best Player of the Tournament award. For me, he was the best player in the world that year, as he combined defensive solidity with attacking intelligence, influencing games in a way few players could.