The 2007 Ballon d'Or, given to the best Association football, football player in the world as judged by an international panel of sports journalists, was awarded to Kaká. This was the first year in which players from clubs outside the UEFA federation were eligible for nomination; this change also led to an increase in the voting pool to include journalists from outside UEFA countries.
Kaká was the fourth Brazilian national to win the award after Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer), Ronaldo (1997, 2002 Ballon d'Or, 2002), Rivaldo (1999), and Ronaldinho (2005). He was the sixth A.C. Milan, Milan player to win the trophy after Gianni Rivera (1969), Ruud Gullit (1987), Marco van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992), George Weah (1995), and Andriy Shevchenko (2004 Ballon d'Or, 2004).
The ceremony is notable as Kaká was the last player to win the Ballon d'Or, Ballon D'or before the Messi–Ronaldo rivalry, Messi–Ronaldo dominance of the award. In 2018 Ballon d'Or, 2018, Croatian Luka Modrić ended the 10-year dominance following his win that year.
Rankings
References
External links
''France Football'' Official Ballon d'Or page
{{Ballon d'Or recipients
Ballon d'Or, 2007
2007–08 in European football