Top 5 Highest Ballon d’Or Finishes by Chelsea Players in History

Chelsea have produced some of football’s biggest stars, but winning the Ballon d’Or while representing the Blues has remained an elusive achievement. From Frank Lampard’s historic second-place finish to Jorginho’s memorable podium appearance, several Chelsea players have come close to claiming football’s most prestigious individual award.

Here are five of the highest Ballon d’Or finishes by Chelsea players, ranked by their best positions in the men’s award, alongside the achievements that defined their respective seasons.

1. Frank Lampard – Second Place (2005)

Frank Lampard holds Chelsea’s best-ever finish in the men’s Ballon d’Or rankings after finishing second behind Barcelona’s Ronaldinho in 2005.

Lampard’s outstanding performances were central to Chelsea’s historic 2004/05 campaign under José Mourinho. The midfielder scored 13 Premier League goals as the Blues won their first English league title in 50 years, collecting a then-record 95 points in the competition. Chelsea also lifted the League Cup and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

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His goals, consistency and influence from midfield made him one of Europe’s standout players. Although Ronaldinho took the award, Lampard’s second-place finish remains a landmark achievement in Chelsea history.

2. Jorginho – Third Place (2021)

Jorginho finished third in the 2021 Ballon d’Or voting after an extraordinary year of success with Chelsea and Italy.

The midfielder played an important role in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph, helping Thomas Tuchel’s side defeat Manchester City in the final. He also won the UEFA Super Cup with the Blues.

Internationally, Jorginho was part of the Italy team that won Euro 2020, held in 2021. His composure, positional intelligence and ability to control the midfield made him a key figure in both successful campaigns.

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His third-place finish placed him among the strongest individual performers of the year, behind Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

3. Didier Drogba – Fourth Place (2007)

Didier Drogba recorded Chelsea’s third-best finish in this ranking when he placed fourth in the 2007 Ballon d’Or.

The Ivorian striker enjoyed a prolific 2006/07 season, scoring 33 goals in all competitions for Chelsea. His powerful finishing and ability to deliver in important matches helped the club win both the FA Cup and League Cup.

Drogba was particularly influential in Chelsea’s attack, combining physical strength with technical quality and an eye for spectacular goals. His performances established him as one of the most feared strikers in European football. He finished behind Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the 2007 voting.

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4. N’Golo Kanté – Fifth Place (2021)

N’Golo Kanté finished fifth in the 2021 Ballon d’Or, capping a remarkable year in which he helped Chelsea win the Champions League.

The French midfielder was outstanding during the knockout stages, particularly in Chelsea’s semi-final victory over Real Madrid. His tireless running, ball recoveries and ability to disrupt opposition attacks made him one of the defining players of the club’s European campaign.

Kanté’s performances earned widespread praise and reinforced his reputation as one of the world’s finest defensive midfielders. His fifth-place finish, alongside Jorginho’s third-place result, underlined Chelsea’s influence on the 2021 awards.

5. Eden Hazard – Eighth Place (2018)

Eden Hazard finished eighth in the 2018 Ballon d’Or voting after another impressive year for Chelsea and Belgium. At club level, Hazard helped Chelsea win the 2017/18 FA Cup, scoring the decisive penalty in the final against Manchester United. He was also a major attacking influence, using his dribbling, creativity and ability to beat defenders to unlock opposition defences.

His performances for Belgium at the 2018 FIFA World Cup further strengthened his case. Hazard captained the national side during its run to the semi-finals and played a key role in its third-place finish, Belgium’s best-ever World Cup result at the time.

Can a Chelsea player finally win the Ballon d’Or?

Chelsea’s history is filled with elite talent, but no player has won the men’s Ballon d’Or while representing the club. Lampard remains the closest, with Jorginho, Drogba, Kanté and Hazard also earning recognition among the world’s best.

With Chelsea continuing to develop and recruit top-level players, the question remains whether a future Blue can go one step further and bring the coveted individual prize to Stamford Bridge.