Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or awards in soccer history, winning the prestigious individual honor eight times during his legendary career.
Messi sits comfortably atop the all-time Ballon d’Or rankings, ahead of longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times. No other player has captured the trophy more than three times.
How Many Ballon d’Or Awards Has Lionel Messi Won?
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or eight times:
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2015
- 2019
- 2021
- 2023
His remarkable run includes four consecutive victories from 2009 through 2012.
Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023 following Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Messi played a starring role in the tournament and scored twice in the World Cup final against France before Argentina won on penalties.
Who Has the Second-Most Ballon d’Or Awards?
Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second with five Ballon d’Or victories.
Ronaldo won the award in:
- 2008
- 2013
- 2014
- 2016
- 2017
The Portuguese superstar won his first Ballon d’Or while playing for Manchester United before adding four more during his historic spell with Real Madrid.
Messi and Ronaldo dominated the award for more than a decade, combining for 13 Ballon d’Or trophies.
Players With the Most Ballon d’Or Wins
Here are the leading multiple-time winners:
| Player | Ballon d’Or Titles |
|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 8 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 |
| Michel Platini | 3 |
| Johan Cruyff | 3 |
| Marco van Basten | 3 |
| Franz Beckenbauer | 2 |
| Ronaldo Nazário | 2 |
| Alfredo Di Stéfano | 2 |
| Kevin Keegan | 2 |
| Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | 2 |
Has Anyone Won Three Ballon d’Or Awards in a Row?
Yes. Michel Platini won three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Messi went one better by winning four consecutive Ballon d’Or awards from 2009 through 2012, another record in the history of the award.
Who Are the Recent Ballon d’Or Winners?
Following Messi’s record eighth victory in 2023, Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Ousmane Dembélé then captured the 2025 Ballon d’Or following his standout performances for Paris Saint-Germain.
Who Has Won the Most Ballon d’Or Awards in History?
The answer remains Lionel Messi with eight Ballon d’Or trophies.
Messi’s eight victories give him three more than Cristiano Ronaldo and five more than any other player in the award’s history.
Ballon d’Or All-Time Leaders
- Lionel Messi — 8
- Cristiano Ronaldo — 5
- Michel Platini — 3
- Johan Cruyff — 3
- Marco van Basten — 3
Messi’s record stands as one of the defining achievements of his career and sets the benchmark for future generations chasing soccer’s most famous individual award.
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