Securing the Ballon d’Or is the ultimate accolade a footballer can achieve. However, there’s an unsettling trend that has emerged recently: many winners of this prestigious award suffer significant injuries in the season following their victory. From the exhaustive demands of constant training to the relentless pressure of maintaining peak performance, this phenomenon raises serious questions about the toll elite athletes face.
Rodri, who has recently won the Ballon d’Or, has experienced firsthand that the path to greatness can sometimes demand heavy sacrifices from a player’s body. Another star, Ousmane Dembélé, known for his notable injury history, is considered a prime candidate to be affected by the so-called curse. In this article, we’ll explore the experiences of several recent winners, diving deep into how this supposed curse plays out and what it might mean for football’s brightest stars.
Table of Contents
Rodri: A Shining Star Turned Fragile
In a stunning twist of fate, Rodri of Manchester City became the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner after leading his club to the pinnacle of European and domestic football. But just weeks after lifting the golden ball, he found himself sidelined with a devastating ACL injury. What happened to him wasn’t just a small hiccup; it was a significant setback that sidelined him for 34 weeks, forcing him to miss much of the 2024-2025 season.
The 2023-2024 season was a brilliant time for Rodri with his standout performances. His dependable presence in the midfield was crucial to Manchester City’s treble victory, and his Ballon d’Or nomination seemed to signal a career at its zenith. However, the relentless demands of top-tier football, including participation in club football, the Champions League, and international tournaments, took a toll. Rodri played 135 matches across just two seasons, including 106 for Man City and 29 for Spain. This grueling schedule, coupled with minimal rest between seasons, led to the severe ACL injury, a fate not uncommon among players who push their bodies to the limit.
This situation epitomizes the curse many Ballon d’Or winners face. Rodri’s injury isn’t just about bad luck – it’s a consequence of the intensity at the top levels of football. The demand to play at the highest level year-round, with little room for recovery, can lead to the overuse of muscles and joints, eventually resulting in injuries.
Ousmane Dembélé: The Fragile Winner Who Might Break the Curse
When Ousmane Dembélé earned the Ballon d’Or in 2025, it seemed like a dream come true for the PSG winger, who was once labeled fragile due to his history of injuries. The speedy and explosive-skilled Frenchman had easily made many question how long he could keep fit throughout his career, plagued by recurring injuries. This was to be the pinnacle of his career thus far, but with such rapid ascents to greatness, one question always seemed to be on the lips of everybody: Would Dembélé evade the curse that has haunted so many others before him?
During the 2024-2025 season, Dembélé was in the form of his life, with appearances in a career-high 61 matches and playing time of over 4,000 minutes, but the history of his injuries casts a long shadow: hamstring problems, which have tormented him throughout his career, again reared their head. Dembélé’s story is one of overcoming fragility, but it’s not just his physicality that really makes him a prime candidate for the curse-it’s the intensity with which he plays.
Dembélé thrives under pressure and often delivers match-winning performances at crucial moments. His style of play, though, demands high-intensity bursts of speed and agility, making him more prone to muscle injuries. The body is normally put through its paces in most instances, with hardly any time for recovery. It’s this intensity that could paradoxically break him. As much as fans and pundits may hope Dembélé has shaken the injury-prone tag, physicality from high-intensity football may still catch up with him.
The History of the Curse: Ballon d’Or Winners and Their Injury Setbacks
The pattern is uncanny: many Ballon d’Or winners after reaching the peak of their careers face injuries that hinder their performance the following season. Let’s break down some key examples between 2000 and 2025, exploring the careers of those who have been affected by the curse.
1. Michael Owen (2001)
Owen’s Ballon d’Or win came after a stellar 2000-2001 season, during which he helped Liverpool secure a treble. However, soon after, he suffered a series of hamstring injuries that plagued his career, robbing him of his trademarked acceleration. Owen was never quite the same player after his win, and despite a promising start to his career, his injuries led to a premature decline. His move to Real Madrid in 2004 offered fractions of insight into the player that once was, but his consistency and fitness eluded him.
2. Ronaldo Nazario (2002)
The Brazilian forward’s Ballon d’Or win in 2002 was a fitting conclusion to his stunning return to form after recovering from a catastrophic knee injury. But even after that remarkable comeback, Ronaldo would face injury struggles in the following seasons. His 2002 win was followed by an extended battle with knee issues, which limited his ability to maintain the consistency that once made him one of the best in the world. The physical toll lingered into his spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan, a legend limited by his body.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Cristiano Ronaldo is often cited as the exception to the “curse,” his career was not without injury issues. After winning the Ballon d’Or in 2008, he sustained an ankle injury that caused him to miss several key matches for Manchester United. However, Ronaldo’s relentless work ethic and commitment to fitness allowed him to recover and continue his career at the highest level, defying the curse. While other names on this list saw their peaks shortened by health struggles, Ronaldo has sustained his elite fitness deep into his 30s at Al Nassr.
4. Fabio Cannavaro (2006)
After winning the Ballon d’Or in 2006 following Italy’s World Cup triumph, Cannavaro struggled with muscle injuries. Persistent injuries bothered the Italian defender more than the major setbacks, still affecting him at his stints at Los Blancos and Juventus. He was never quite as influential in the seasons following his silverware acquisition, and his career saw a gradual decline – less dramatic than other names on this list but still a cautionary tale for the curse.
5. Luka Modrić (2018)
Modrić’s win in 2018 was historic as he became the first player outside the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly to win the Ballon d’Or in over a decade. But the following season, Modrić faced significant fatigue and injuries due to the intensity of his performances for both Real Madrid and Croatia. His recovery was slow, and although he continued to play at a high level, his form was not as spectacular as the previous year.
Understanding the Curse: Intensity, Fatigue, and Overwork
The Ballon d’Or curse isn’t just about the luck of the draw – it’s a reflection of the immense pressure and intensity that comes with being at the top of the footballing world. These players are expected to perform consistently at an extraordinary level, often without the proper rest and recovery time. Physical and mental stamina are tested to their limits along with constant media spotlight and requirements to play at an elite level every game contribute to the risk of injury. Demands have never been greater in history than how they are now in modern football, where it’s only a matter of time before injuries ensue.
FAQs: The Ballon d’Or Curse
How common is the injury after a Ballon d’Or win?
The “curse” is not an official phenomenon, but numerous high-profile players have experienced setbacks after winning the Ballon d’Or, such as Rodri, Michael Owen, and Ronaldo. It’s not uncommon for winners to suffer from burnout or injuries due to the pressure and intensity of maintaining peak performance.
Can a player avoid the curse?
Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have managed to avoid the curse, mainly due to their exceptional physical conditioning and the ability to manage their workloads. However, even though they have faced injuries, their careers remained relatively injury-free compared to other winners.
What causes the Ballon d’Or curse?
It can be attributed to the immense pressure and workload that comes with playing at the highest level. Injuries often stem from fatigue, overtraining, and the physical demands of maintaining peak form throughout the year.
Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or represents the pinnacle of achievement in football, but it comes with a potential cost. Whether it’s Rodri’s ACL injury or Dembélé’s ongoing struggles, the trend suggests that achieving greatness in football sometimes leads to physical breakdowns after pushing their bodies to their absolute limits. For Dembélé, the fragile star, the curse seems all but inevitable, but there’s always hope that he might break free from it, just as Ronaldo and Messi once did. Ultimately, this curse speaks to the relentless demands of modern football and raises the question: How can the sport better protect its players?
