The 1996 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 Matthias Sammer on 24 December 1996.

Additionally, eighteen players were nominated but received no votes: Oliver Bierhoff (Udinese & Germany), Laurent Blanc (Auxerre/Barcelona & France), Zvonimir Boban (AC Milan & Croatia), Enrico Chiesa (Sampdoria/Parma & Italy), Edgar Davids (Ajax/AC Milan & Netherlands), Robbie Fowler (Liverpool & England), Thomas Helmer (Bayern Munich & Germany), Bernard Lama (Paris Saint-Germain & France), Jari Litmanen (Ajax & Finland), Andreas Möller (Borussia Dortmund & Germany), Pavel Nedvěd (Sparta Parague/Lazio & Czech Republic), Jay-Jay Okocha (Eintracht Frankfurt/Fenerbahçe & Nigeria), Raí (Paris Saint-Germain & Brazil), Dejan Savićević (AC Milan & Yugoslavia), Mehmet Scholl (Bayern Munich & Germany), Diego Simeone (Atlético Madrid & Argentina), Gianluca Vialli (Juventus/Chelsea & Italy) and Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan & Argentina).