Not just Cristiano Ronaldo and Estevao Willian: What happened to the Premier League players with Ballon d’Or contract clauses?
The Ballon d’Or, soccer’s most prestigious individual honor, is awarded annually to the best player in the world. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have claimed it multiple times, yet no Premier League player has lifted the trophy since Ronaldo in 2008.
Still, that hasn’t stopped English clubs from weaving special Ballon d’Or clauses into player contracts. The latest to have one is Chelsea’s teenage star, Estevao Willian. But he’s far from alone. Over the years, several high-profile players — including some whose Premier League careers ended quietly — have had similar clauses. Their stories, however, are often as surprising as the clauses themselves.
Chelsea, in their quest for Premier League dominance, splashed heavily in recent transfer windows. Alongside new arrivals, it was Estevao, signed in June 2024 from Palmeiras, who drew the most excitement. The Brazilian attacker officially joined the club this summer upon turning 18.
In a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, he needed just 18 minutes to score on his debut. Early talk has already linked him to future Ballon d’Or contention. According to Fabrizio Romano, “Estevao has a Ballon d’Or clause in his contract, and Palmeiras will receive a bonus if he wins the award as a Chelsea player any time before 2033.
Other Premier League players with Ballon d’Or clauses
Estevao’s clause is the newest, but not the first. In fact, the Premier League has a quiet history of inserting such incentives into contracts — and the results have been mixed. Anthony Martial was just 19 when he joined Manchester United from Monaco in 2015. The deal included an approximately $10 million payment to Monaco if Martial won the Ballon d’Or. Despite early promise, he never came close, leaving United in 2024 after scoring 90 goals in 317 appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo, during his 2021 return to Manchester United, reportedly had a $1.3 million bonus for winning the Ballon d’Or, UEFA Player of the Year, or the Champions League. His final Ballon d’Or podium finish was back in 2017.
Mohamed Salah’s clause was unusual: It has been reported that his Liverpool contract allowed him to request a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona if he failed to win the Ballon d’Or. Despite coming close in 2019, the move never materialized, and he extended his contract to 2027.
Thiago Alcantara, signed by Liverpool from Bayern Munich in 2020, had Ballon d’Or-related bonuses as part of an $8 million performance package. Injuries limited him to 98 appearances before his 2024 retirement, without ever receiving a nomination.
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United’s captain, has a clause awarding Sporting Lisbon an extra $5.8 million each time he finishes in the top three. His best result so far? 21st place in 2021.
Why clubs use these clauses
For clubs, these clauses serve as prestige insurance: if a player becomes the best in the world, paying a bonus is a small price compared to the value of their success. For selling clubs, it’s a bet on potential that might pay off years later.
Yet, history shows that while Ballon d’Or clauses sound glamorous, most remain dormant. Estevao Willian’s journey is just beginning — and time will tell whether his name joins the short list of players who made those clauses count.