The Ballon d’Or is the highest individual award given in the world of soccer. Several of the greatest players in history have won the award, which is presented by the French magazine ‘France Football’.
The Ballon d’Or has been awarded annually since 1956, with the exception of 2020, when it was not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of Ballon d’Ors a player has won is one of the yardsticks used by fans in the eternal debate over who is the greatest player in history.
It’s a bit of a useless statistic, as the award, until 1995, was only given to European players. For this reason, Pele and Diego Maradona did not win it during their incredible playing careers.
Alfredo Di Stefano, on the other hand, was able to win the Ballon d’Or as he also had Spanish nationality.
Therefore, the top three in the list is as follows:
1. Lionel Messi: Eight Ballon d’Ors
The Argentinian broke the tie he had with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2019, extending his lead over the Portuguese in 2021 to two.
The overwhelming dominance of both players over the past fifteen years is reflected in this award. The Inter Miami player won four consecutive Ballon d’Ors between 2009 and 2012, while he also took the trophy home in 2015, 2019, 2021, adn 2023.
2. Cristano Ronaldo: Five Ballon d’Ors
The battle between the Portuguese and Messi has seen five awards go to the player from Madeira. Cristiano received his first award in 2008 as a Manchester United player.
After his Real Madrid career ended, he left as the club’s top goalscorer of all time. This on-pitch production manifested itself in the Ballon d’Or results, as he lifted the trophy in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
His debut on the podium came in 2007, when he finished third behind Messi and Kaka.
3. Platini, Cruyff and Van Basten: Three Ballon d’Ors
Michael Platini leads the podium of the most prolific winners of the award, as the French player won it three times. While playing for Juventus, the former UEFA president won the Ballon d’Or three years in a row (between 1983 and 1985).
The rest of the players who have won three or more awards are completed by Dutchmen Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten. Cruyff won his first Ballon d’Or in 1971 as an Ajax player and the other two while playing for Barcelona in 1973 and 1974.
Van Basten began his career at Ajax under Cruyff, but individual accolades came his way as a player with AC Milan, where he lifted the award in 1988, 1989 and 1992.
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