| 1997 Ballon d'Or | |
|---|---|
 1997 Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo | |
| Date | 23 December 1997 |
| Presented by | France Football |
| Website | francefootball.fr/ballon-d-or |
The 1997 Ballon d'Or, given to the best football player in Europe as judged by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries, was awarded to Ronaldo on 23 December 1997. [1] The Brazilian became the youngest winner of the award, at 21 years old. [2]
Additionally, fourteen players were nominated but received no votes: Sonny Anderson (Monaco/Barcelona & Brazil), Enrico Chiesa (Parma & Italy), Hernán Crespo (Parma & Argentina), Iván de la Peña (Barcelona & Spain), Robbie Fowler (Liverpool & England), Thomas Häßler (Karlsruher SC & Germany), Thomas Helmer (Bayern Munich & Germany), Filippo Inzaghi (Atalanta/Juventus & Italy), Gianluca Pagliuca (Inter Milan & Italy), Robert Pires (Metz & France), Karl-Heinz Riedle (Borussia Dortmund/Liverpool & Germany), Sergi (Barcelona & Spain), Davor Šuker (Real Madrid & Croatia) and Ian Wright (Arsenal & England).
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