Ballon d’Or is the highest individual honor given in the world of football. France Football started this award in 1956 and have been giving it almost every year since. It is awarded to the best-performing player for that season or year.
These players must have produced excellent performances at the highest level of football while also helping their respective teams win trophies and titles. The winner of the award is decided by voting by 100 journalists from FIFA’s 100 top-ranked member nations.
Let’s take a look at the top five male football players to have won the coveted award the highest number of times:
1. Lionel Messi – 8
Many regard Lionel Messi as the greatest football player of all time and his record eight Ballons d’Or provide a great argument for it. The legendary Argentine has won almost everything the game has to offer with both club and country.
He won the award for the first time in 2009 before winning it the next three years in a row as well between 2010 and 2012. He then won it in 2015, 2019 and 2021 as well. His last win came in 2023 after he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.
It could be his last time winning the award as the 37-year-old has now left Europe and plays for Inter Miami.
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2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5
Widely regarded as one of the two greatest players of all time alongside Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times. He started off in 2008 after an incredible season with Manchester United as he helped them win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo then moved to Real Madrid where he won the award two years in a row twice in 2013 & 2014 and 2016 & 2017. He’s won almost every trophy available for club and country and currently plies his trade with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
3. Michel Platini – 3
One of the greatest French players of all time, Michel Platini won the coveted award three years in a row – 1983, 1984, and 1985.
He won after his contributions to Juventus and France as they won numerous trophies during his time at the club. He won the Serie A, European Cup Winners’ Cup, and European Super Cup in 1984 and the European Cup in 1985, among other honors, with the Italian side.
Platini also helped France win the Euros in 1984 and the Finalissima in 1985.
4. Johan Cruyff – 3
One of the most iconic and legendary players of all time, Johan Cruyff also won the Ballon d’Or three times. He won it in 1971, 1973, and 1974 after his brilliant performances for Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands.
He helped Ajax win the KNVB Cup and the European Cup in 1971. He won the European Cup again in 1973 along with the Eredivisie title. In 1974, he won the La Liga with Barcelona and helped the Netherlands reach the FIFA World Cup final.
5. Marco van Basten – 3
The third and last player to have won the Ballon d’Or three times is another Dutch legend, Marco van Basten. The former Ajax and AC Milan striker won it two years in a row in 1988 and 1989 before adding a third in 1992.
In 1988, Van Basten won the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan and the UEFA Euros with the Netherlands. The following year, he won the European Cup, European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with Milan.
In 1992, he again won the Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana.
6. Franz Beckenbauer – 2
Franz Beckenbauer also known as ‘The Emperor’ was the first defender to win this prestigious award for his achievements for club and country. Often regarded as one of the greatest defenders and footballers the world has ever seen. He invented the modern-day sweeper role, where a defender initiates the offensive attack from the back to catch the opponent off guard. Franz Beckenbauer won two Ballon d’Or in his professional football career in 1972 & 1976 making him the only defender in history to win this award twice.
7. Ronaldo Nazario – 2
Ronaldo also known as ‘Fenômeno‘ won his first Ballon d’Or in 1997 and second in 2002 for his impressive performances for his club and country. The Brazilian striker known for his speed, dribbling, and finishing, became the youngest footballer to receive this prestigious award at 21 years, 3 months, and 5 days. He won the Copa del Rey and Cup Winners’ Cup with FC Barcelona, scoring 47 goals in 49 games. The Brazilian striker then moved to Inter Milan where he helped his team to win the UEFA Cup and scored 34 goals, and in 2002, he won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil.
8. Alfredo Di Stefano – 2
Alfredo Di Stefano was known for his goalscoring abilities and dribbling, having played for Real Madrid, and is the fourth-highest league goalscorer of all time for Real Madrid. The Argentine striker was a force to reckon with in front of the goal and played a key role in the success of Real Madrid. He won La Liga and UEFA European Cup in 1957. In 1959, he once again won the Ballon d’Or for his achievements and performances for the club and country.
9. Kevin Keegan – 2
Kevin Keegan’s style of play was aggressive, and attacking, known for his swift dribbling, finishing, and aerial abilities. The English striker won two Ballon d’Or for his impressive performances for his club and country in 1977 & 1978. He won the Football League First Division & European Cup with Liverpool.
10. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge known for his attacking abilities and finishing. The German forward is often considered one of the best attacking players of his generation. His vision, dribbling, speed, and aerial abilities made him one of the most deadly forward of his era. He won the UEFA European Championship with West Germany and 2 Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich which helped him in winning Ballon d’Or in 1980 & 1981.
Also Read: Ranking the 10 youngest Ballon d’Or winners in history
On that note, here’s a list of all the men’s Ballon d’Or winners in history:
| Year | Player | Club | Country |
| 2024 | Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) | Argentina |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | France |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | PSG | Argentina |
| 2020 | Not awarded (Covid) | ||
| 2019 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2018 | Luka Modric | Real Madrid | Croatia |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | Portugal |
| 2007 | Kaka | AC Milan | Brazil |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro | Real Madrid | Italy |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho | Barcelona | Brazil |
| 2004 | Andriy Shevchenko | AC Milan | Ukraine |
| 2003 | Pavel Nedved | Juventus | Czechia |
| 2002 | Ronaldo Nazario | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| 2001 | Michael Owen | Liverpool | England |
| 2000 | Luis Figo | Real Madrid | Portugal |
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Barcelona | Brazil |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane | Juventus | France |
| 1997 | Ronaldo Nazario | Inter Milan | Brazil |
| 1996 | Matthias Sammer | Borussia Dortmund | Germany |
| 1995 | George Weah | AC Milan | Liberia |
| 1994 | Hristo Stoichkov | Barcelona | Bulgaria |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio | Juventus | Italy |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1991 | Jean-Pierre Papin | Marseille | France |
| 1990 | Lothar Matthaus | Inter Milan | Germany |
| 1989 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1988 | Marco van Basten | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1987 | Ruud Gullit | AC Milan | Netherlands |
| 1986 | Igor Belanov | Dynamo Kyiv | Soviet Union |
| 1985 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1984 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1983 | Michel Platini | Juventus | France |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Juventus | Italy |
| 1981 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1980 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | West Germany |
| 1979 | Kevin Keegan | England | Hamburg |
| 1978 | Kevin Keegan | England | Hamburg |
| 1977 | Allan Simonsen | Denmark | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| 1976 | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1975 | Oleg Blokhin | Soviet Union | Dynamo Kyiv |
| 1974 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| 1973 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| 1972 | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1971 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | Ajax |
| 1970 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | Bayern Munich |
| 1969 | Gianni Rivera | Italy | Milan |
| 1968 | George Best | Northern Ireland | Manchester United |
| 1967 | Flórián Albert | Hungary | Ferencv rosi TC |
| 1966 | Bobby Charlton | England | Manchester United |
| 1965 | Eusébio | Portugal | Benfica |
| 1964 | Denis Law | Scotland | Manchester United |
| 1963 | Lev Yashin | Soviet Union | Dynamo Moscow |
| 1962 | Josef Masopust | Czechoslovakia | Dukla Prague |
| 1961 | Omar Sívori | Italy | Juventus |
| 1960 | Luis Suárez | Spain | Barcelona |
| 1959 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Argentina / Spain | Real Madrid |
| 1958 | Raymond Kopa | France | Real Madrid |
| 1957 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Argentina / Spain | Real Madrid |
| 1956 | Stanley Matthews | England | Blackpool |
FAQs
Q. Who won the most Ballon d’Or?
A. Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or trophy 8 times.
Q. Who first won the Ballon d’Or between Messi and Ronaldo?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to win the Ballon d’Or, achieving the honor in 2008 before Lionel Messi.
Q. How many Ballons d’Or has Ronaldo won?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo has won 5 Ballons d’Or.
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