Nearly 30 years have passed since a German footballer last won the Ballon d'Or, the sport's most prestigious individual prize. Even before Sammer, German footballers had seen considerable Ballon d'Or success, particularly in the 1970s and early 80s. But the coveted Ballon d'Or has remained elusive for German footballers. The duo dominated on the field, and that was reflected in the Ballon d'Or. From Ronaldo's first win in 2008 to Messi's win in 2023, every year but two saw the Ballon d'Or given to these prolific footballers.