Top 5 Ballon d'Or winners with the least points difference

#3 Franz Beckenbauer - Gerd Muller (2 points, 1972)

Beckenbauer and Muller shared an excellent relationship. Image Source: Futbol Retro

The year 1972 saw one of the most intriguing Ballon d'Or races of all time, for a multitude of reasons. Franz Beckenbauer was the eventual winner of the award but had two of his compatriots hot on his heels before he lifted the prize.

One of those Ballon d'Or finalists was Beckenbauer's mates with club and country - Gerd Muller. The Bayern Munich striker had shattered records in the 1971-72 season and his 40 goals had inspired the Bavarians to a historic league victory.

#CFEUROS Countdown: 1972 - Gerd Muller stole the show in Brussels to secure the cup for Beckenbauer's West Germany pic.twitter.com/EhJEQ8h65F

— Cafe Football (@cafefootballuk) May 30, 2016

Gerd Muller had no qualms conceding the Ballon d'Or to his captain, however, with Beckenbauer stepping up as the driving force behind Bayern Munich and Germany's successes. Der Kaiser won the Ballon d'Or with 81 points, while Gerd Muller and Gunter Netzer finished in a close second place with 79 points.

---

#2 Bobby Charlton - Eusebio (1 point, 1966)

Bobby Charlton and Eusebio are legends of the game

Bobby Charlton became a bonafide legend in 1966. The Manchester United great had enjoyed an impressive season with the Red Devils and had inspired England to their first-ever FIFA World Cup triumph.

Charlton should have been a shoo-in for the Ballon d'Or but went on to face intense competition for the 1965 Ballon d'Or winner, Eusebio. Portugal's legendary striker was the most prolific goalscorer of his time and nearly denied Bobby Charlton his crowning glory in 1966.

The English midfielder held on to win the award by a solitary vote and took his place among the sport's all-time greats. Both Charlton and Eusebio were the best players of the 1960s and this particular Ballon d'Or race is a fair reflection of what was once a budding rivalry.

---

#1 Matthias Sammer - Ronaldo (1 point, 1996)

Sammer beat Ronaldo to the Ballon d'Or. Image Source: FourFourTwo

As far as fine margins go, Matthias Sammer's Ballon d'Or victory in 1996 takes the cake. The German libero enjoyed an excellent season with both club and country, winning the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. He also went on to win the Player of the Tournament award in Germany's successful Euro 1996 campaign.

Sammer was certainly a favourite to win the award but a certain Ronaldo's exhilarating performances gave the German a run for his money. Ronaldo had joined Barcelona in 1996 and was ripping La Liga apart after a successful breakthrough season with PSV Eindhoven. The Brazilian prodigy had scored 19 goals in only 21 Eredivisie appearances and was hot on Sammer's heels in the Ballon d'Or race.

🧠 Matthias Sammer was the brains and brawn in one of #BVB's greatest sides - a footballer who sits alongside Germany's foremost legends, as @yad_williams explains. This and more in the Borussia Dortmund magazine. Grab your copy before it sells out:➡️ https://t.co/nMcFzLOx69 pic.twitter.com/5Qjm07Dg9Z

— These Football Times (@thesefootytimes) May 2, 2019

Matthias Sammer had silverware on his side, however, and eventually won the Ballon d'Or with 144 points. Ronaldo was breathing down his neck with 143 points and went on to win the Ballon d'Or after a record-breaking season with Barcelona in 1997.

---