Ballon d'Or: Ranking the 5 youngest winners in history

#3 Lionel Messi (2009) - 22 years 157 days

Lionel Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009.

Lionel Messi is the most successful player in the history of the Ballon d'Or. The diminutive Argentine has won the award on a record six occasions, breaking a tie with Cristiano Ronaldo by winning the 2019 Ballon d'Or ten years after winning his first.

After a stellar 2008-09 season for Barcelona, which saw the club win six titles, Messi was the odds-on favorite to land his first Ballon d'Or.

In a landslide victory, he beat his closest competitor, Cristiano Ronaldo, by a whopping 240 votes to become one of the youngest Ballon d'Or winners.

Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d'Or - 2009 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wPiqUa00nc

— Goal (@goal) December 2, 2019

Messi scored 38 goals to help Barcelona win the continental treble of La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and the Champions League.

The then 22-year-old also helped the Blaugrana win the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup later that year.

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#2 Michael Owen (2001) - 22 years, 4 days

Michael Owen poses with his 2001 Ballon d'Or.

In 2001, Michael Owen became the first Englishman in more than two decades to win the Ballon d'Or.

Although Liverpool did not win the league title that year, the young Owen helped the Reds win the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.

The then 22-year-old scored 24 goals in all competitions in 2000-01 and also netted in the 3-2 win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Super Cup.

On this day Michael Owen won the 2001 Ballon d'Or@themichaelowen became the first English player to win the prestigious award since Kevin Keegan won back to back Ballon d'Or's in 1978 and 1979 pic.twitter.com/EQ38Dwapeh

— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) December 17, 2019

Three years after winning the Ballon d'Or, Owen moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid but endured a largely injury-plagued stint.

The English striker returned to the Premier League to join Manchester United but never scaled the same heights as his Liverpool days again.

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#1 Ronaldo Nazario (1997) - 21 years, 95 days

Ronaldo Nazario became the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in 1997.

Ronaldo Nazario became the youngest player to win the Ballon d'Or when he bagged the prestigious honor after a stellar year in 1997.

One of the most complete strikers the game has ever seen, the Brazilian striker scored nearly 50 goals in his loan season with Barcelona. His goals helped the Catalan giants win the Cup Winners Cup and saw them miss out on the La Liga title by just two points.

He broke the world transfer record twice before his 21st birthday.Based on currency fluctuation, he'd be the most expensive player in history at €433m.On this day in 1997, Ronaldo became the youngest-ever recipient of the Ballon d'Or, a record that still stands. pic.twitter.com/CoYh5JGHk5

— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) December 23, 2018

Five years later, Ronaldo would win his second Ballon d'Or, this time with Real Madrid. Despite enduring an injury-plagued career, Ronaldo scored goals galore for club and country, winning two La Liga, Copa America, and FIFA World Cup titles.

Almost two decades later, Ronaldo Nazario remains the only player to win the Ballon d'Or award before his 22nd birthday.