The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, honoring the best player in the world each year. Over the decades, only a handful of legends have managed to win it multiple times. Below, we highlight the players with the most Ballon d’Or trophies in history—icons who defined generations and left their mark on the game forever.
1. Lionel Messi – 8 Ballon d’Ors
Lionel Messi leads the list with an unmatched eight Ballon d’Or titles, cementing his status as the greatest of all time for many fans. From dazzling dribbles at Barcelona to his World Cup triumph with Argentina in 2022, Messi’s consistency at the highest level makes his record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 Ballon d’Ors
Cristiano Ronaldo sits just behind with five Ballon d’Ors, a testament to his incredible longevity and goal-scoring dominance across Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Portugal. His rivalry with Messi defined an era of football excellence.
3. Michel Platini – 3 Ballon d’Ors
The French maestro won three consecutive Ballon d’Ors (1983–1985). Platini’s vision, passing, and finishing made him one of the most elegant playmakers of all time, particularly during his golden years at Juventus.
4. Johan Cruyff – 3 Ballon d’Ors
The legendary Dutch forward and tactical genius, Johan Cruyff, also claimed three Ballon d’Or awards. As the face of “Total Football,” his influence on the game as both player and coach remains unmatched.
5. Marco van Basten – 3 Ballon d’Ors
Another Dutch legend, Marco van Basten, won the Ballon d’Or three times. Known for his lethal finishing and technical brilliance, Van Basten dominated in the late 1980s and early 1990s with AC Milan and the Netherlands.
Players with 2 Ballon d’Ors
While not at the very top, these players still made history by winning the award twice:
- Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) – The only defender with multiple wins, the “Kaiser” redefined modern defending.
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) – “El Fenómeno” captured hearts with his explosive pace and finishing.
- Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain/Argentina) – The Real Madrid icon was a pioneer of modern attacking football.
- Kevin Keegan (England) – A two-time winner who shone at Hamburg and Liverpool.
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany) – A clinical striker and leader who dominated the European stage.
Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or has crowned the legends of world football, from Messi and Ronaldo’s modern rivalry to Cruyff and Platini’s golden eras. While Messi currently holds the record with eight titles, football history shows that greatness spans across generations. Future stars will chase this honor, but these names remain etched in the sport’s Hall of Fame.
