The twenty-fifth winner of the "Golden Ball" - Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Germany's dominance in the 1980s was highlighted by an emphatic triumph for the Bayern Munich striker
There is hardly anyone who would not envy the German generation of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Bundesliga seems to be, and is, the strongest league in Europe then, and the national team is full of extremely quality players. Especially in attack where everyone is trying to reach Gerd Müller's level. The "Golden Ball" in 1980 was again in the hands of a player from the West German championship, but unlike the previous 3 years, he was again German. It's Bayern Munich's top scorer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge who wins the award in undisputed fashion.
On December 30, it became clear that Rummenigge had collected 122 out of a possible 125 points from the 25 people who voted in the poll. In doing so, the striker became the third player from West Germany, after Gerd Müller in 1970 and Franz Beckenbauer in 1972 and 1976, to take the most prestigious individual award in football on the Old Continent. Second remains his compatriot Bern Schuster, who defends the colors of Barcelona. Schuster took second place by just a point ahead of Michel Platini, who finished with 33. Twenty-four of the voting journalists representing UEFA member countries were of the firm opinion that Rummenigge should take the award. One leaves him fourth. Schuster has one first position, three second, three third, three fourth and two fifth, and two more journalists voted for Platini, but he is without first place, with three second, four third, two fourth and five fifth.
For another year, we cannot see a Bulgarian name in the lineup, although there are well-performing native players. The top five in the Ballon d'Or voting in 1980 was completed by two Belgians. They are Wilfried Van Moor of Beveren with 27 points and Jan Koulemans of Club Brugge with 20 points. Curiously, the winner of the previous two years, Kevin Keegan, was not among the players who collected points in this vote.
A Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich and the team's top scorer with 26 goals, Rummenigge seems fully deserving of his Ballon d'Or for this achievement alone. We must not forget that in the 1980s the European Football Championship was also held. It finally has more teams participating, but they are unable to stop West Germany. Rummenigge only scored one goal, but he brought the valuable success over Czechoslovakia at the start.
In Europe, Bayern Munich reached the semi-finals of the second most powerful competition - the UEFA Cup. Rummenigge was the main scorer in this tournament as well, but failed to help his team eliminate Eintracht Frankfurt, who subsequently won the award.
With the beginning of the 80/81 season, the top form of the attacker continues, who immediately shines in the tournament for the European Champions Cup. He is the main reason why the good Ajax team was eliminated in the second round, and he did not fail to register against Olympiakos at the start of the competition. In the Bundesliga, it is also difficult to find someone to stop Rummenigge.
The most convincing victory in the Ballon d'Or voting is no fluke and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge shows that West Germany has its great goalscorer again. Having improved the biggest gap between first and second in the standings for the best footballer in Europe, the Bayern Munich player is ready to reveal even more of himself.