Ballon d'Or: 5 footballers from obscure nations who won the award 

#3 George Best (Northern Ireland)

George Best alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law who all won the Ballon d'Or

Regarded as one of the best footballers in history, George Best won the Ballon d'Or in 1968. The late Manchester United winger was known for his dribbling skills, pace and ability to control the ball using both his left and right foot.

Between 1963 and 1974, Best made over 350 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 137 goals and providing three assists. At just 22, the Northern Irishman was awarded the Ballon d'Or, and he is currently the fourth-youngest player to do so.

Soon after, Best's career declined. In his last two seasons as a United player, the winger was often left out of the squad. Subsequently, Best moved overseas to play for clubs in South Africa and the United States but failed to regain his form.

Nonetheless, Best is the only player from Northern Ireland to win the Ballon d'Or and remains a greatly respected figure.

This lob from Georgie Best 😍Classy shirt, classy player... 👕#MUFC #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/cSLsq8dTG3

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 14, 2021

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#2 George Weah (Liberia)

George Weah credits Arsene Wenger as one of the most influential figures in his life

Before becoming the 25th President of Liberia, George Weah was a footballer for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AC Milan, amongst others.

Weah gained recognition for his playing abilities when he joined Monaco in 1988 to play under Arsene Wenger. During his four years with Les Monegasques, Weah scored 65 times in 136 matches and won the French Cup. Thereafter, he moved to PSG, where he netted 50 goals in 133 games and lifted the Ligue 1 title.

At his peak, the 54-year-old was the top-scorer in the UEFA Champions League in the 1994-95 season. Additionally, after joining AC Milan in 1995, Weah lifted the Serie A trophy and finished as the top scorer in his first season. His accomplishments earned him the Ballon d'Or, something the striker had never dreamt of.

To date, Weah is the first and only African player to win the Ballon d'Or. Reflecting on his career as a footballer, Weah said:

“When I started playing football, I never thought I would ever win the Ballon d'Or and emerge as the best player in the world. I just had a passion for the game and I worked hard. Every day. I would rather train than eat or sleep."

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#1 Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)

Andriy Shevchenko is currently the manager of the Ukraine national team

Andriy Shevchenko was recently hailed for leading Ukraine's national team to their first quarter-final appearance in a European Championship. While they put up a miserable performance and lost 4-0 to England, the 44-year-old manager is nevertheless regarded as a legend in Ukraine.

Despite facing competition from the likes of Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney, Shevchenko became the third Ukrainian player to win the Ballon d'Or in 2004.

The former striker spent the majority of his career playing for Dynamo Kyiv and AC Milan, but he also endured an unsuccessful three-year spell at Chelsea. During his time with the Rossoneri, Shevchenko scored 175 goals in 322 appearances, establishing himself as the club's all-time second-highest goalscorer.

At the same time, the centre-forward is the second-most capped player for Ukraine and with 48 goals, he is the top scorer for his country. As one of the best strikers of his generation, winning the Ballon d'Or summarizes Shevchenko's achievements.

Andriy Shevchenko was brilliant! (via @CompsACM) pic.twitter.com/L95ek9WUaU

— 90s Football (@90sfootball) July 9, 2021