Who has the most ballon d’or awards: Top 10 soccer superstars

Who has the most ballon d’or awards? In the history of world football, the Golden Ball has always been the most prestigious individual award, dreamed of by any player. It not only honors outstanding talents in a year of competition but also engraves their names in the great flow of this game. From legends like Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff to the bright stars of the 21st century like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, each of them has left an indelible mark in the hearts of fans. In this article, let’s Kingsoccertips.com take a look at the 10 best players, who have overcome all challenges to reach the Golden Ball trophy the most times in history, affirming their unshakable position in the global football village.

Who has the most ballon d’or awards?

1. Lionel Messi – 8 times

Back then, when Lionel Messi was just a little boy with the dream of becoming a great football player, no one could have imagined that he would become one of the world’s top stars. With his talent and relentless dedication, Messi has overcome all difficulties with 8 times being the owner of the Golden Ball award, an undeniable record.

In 2023, Messi once again made his mark in football history when he won the Golden Ball award from France Football magazine. What’s special is that the person who announced Messi’s name and awarded the award was David Beckham, who had a great contribution to bringing him to the US to play and opening a new chapter in his career. With the 8th Golden Ball award in his career, Messi has affirmed his position as one of the best players of all time.

He previously won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021. To win this title, Messi played brilliantly at the 2022 World Cup, contributing significantly to Argentina’s thrilling victory over France in the final. It was an emotional match, where Messi showed his outstanding ability and brought a historic victory to the national team.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 times

Cristiano Ronaldo, born February 5, 1985, is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays as a forward for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and is the captain of the Portuguese national team. He is considered one of the best players in football history, with an illustrious career spanning more than two decades.

Ronaldo has won 5 Ballons d’Or (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and 4 European Golden Shoes, both records for a European player. In total, he owns 32 major and minor titles, including 7 national championships, 5 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 Euro (2016) and 1 UEFA Nations League (2019). In the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo holds many impressive records: most appearances (183), most goals (140), and most assists (42). He is also the player with the most international goals (127 goals, as of 2024) and the most appearances for the national team (203 times).

In club football, Ronaldo reached his peak at Real Madrid when he became the team’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals in 438 matches. He helped Real Madrid win 2 La Liga, 4 Champions League (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) and many other titles. Before that, at Manchester United, Ronaldo won 3 Premier League, 1 Champions League (2008) and became his first Ballon d’Or that year. Success at Euro 2016 with the Portuguese team officially put him in the ranks of legends, affirming his position as a great player of all time.

3. Michel Platini – 3 times

French football has produced many talents and among them Michel Platini is considered the greatest. Michel Platini was born on June 21, 1955 in France, he is the best midfielder that France has ever produced. During his playing career, Michel Platini was known as the best attacking player of the 80s. His career reached its peak in the 1984 – 1985 season, when he won the European Championship with the French team and immediately after that, won the C1 Cup with Juventus. Michel Platini is a former Juventus player, former football coach and former President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) from 2007 to 2016.

Michel Platini won three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards in 1983, 1984 and 1985. During his playing career, Platini played for Nancy, Saint-Étienne and Juventus. Platini was a member of the French team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was both the best player and top scorer. He also participated in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, finishing third in 1986 and fourth in 1982. Platini, along with Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana, formed the Magic Quartet, the midfield that was the heart of the French team throughout the 1980s. He was voted European Footballer of the Year three times. Platini was the coach leading the French team at Euro 92. He was also co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 1998 World Cup (the other being Fernand Sastre) in his homeland, a tournament in which the French team won the championship.

4. Johan Cruyff – 3 times

Johan Cruyff, full name Hendrik Johannes Cruyff (25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016), was a legendary Dutch footballer and coach. He is known as an icon of the “Total Football” philosophy under the guidance of Rinus Michels, playing a key role in making Dutch football a major force in the 1970s. Cruyff won the Ballon d’Or three times (1971, 1973, 1974) and led the Netherlands to the 1974 World Cup final, where he won the Ballon d’Or for best player of the tournament.

The nickname “Saint Johan” reflects Cruyff’s influence in football history. He started his career at Ajax Amsterdam, winning eight league titles and three European Cups before moving to Barcelona in 1973 for a then-record fee. Here, Cruyff quickly made his mark, helping the team win La Liga in his first season and winning the Ballon d’Or that same year.

After retiring in 1984, Cruyff continued his success as a coach, particularly with Ajax and Barcelona, ​​where he built the legendary “Dream Team”. He also played an important advisory role at both clubs, leaving a lasting legacy in football philosophy and player development.

Cruyff was fluent in five languages ​​and was an icon of global football. In 2015, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, partly due to his heavy smoking habits. Cruyff passed away on March 24, 2016 in Barcelona, ​​leaving an indelible legacy in the hearts of football fans around the world.

5. Marco van Basten – 3 times

Marco van Basten, born 31 October 1964, is a former Dutch footballer and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time. With 276 career goals, he was known for his power, excellent technique, and inspiring volleys. However, his career was ended prematurely by a serious ankle injury.

Van Basten won the Ballon d’Or three times (1988, 1989, 1992) and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992. He was also voted the 9th best player of the 20th century by the IFFHS and ranked 8th in the poll of former Ballon d’Or winners organized by France Football.

Starting his football career at the age of six at EDO, Van Basten played for UVV Utrecht and Elinkwijk before joining Ajax Amsterdam. He made his Ajax debut in April 1982, scoring on his debut, replacing the legendary Johan Cruyff. During his time at Ajax, Van Basten scored 117 goals in 112 Eredivisie games, winning the European Golden Boot in 1985-86 with 37 goals in 26 games. He also scored the winning goal in the 1987 Cup Winners’ Cup final, helping Ajax beat Lokomotive Leipzig.

In 1987, Van Basten moved to AC Milan, where he continued to shine, winning major honours such as 3 Serie A titles and 2 European Cups. Van Basten was also a star for the Netherlands national team, helping them win Euro 1988 with a legendary goal against the Soviet Union in the final. His legacy is a symbol of perfection in attacking football.

6. Franz Beckenbauer – 2 times

Franz Beckenbauer, born 11 September 1945, is a former German footballer and manager, nicknamed “Der Kaiser” (The Emperor) for his elegant style, leadership and influence on the pitch. He is considered one of the greatest players in football history and the inventor of the modern sweeper role (libero).

Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or twice (1972, 1976) and made 103 appearances for West Germany. He is one of only three people to win the World Cup as both a player (1974) and a coach (1990). He is also the first captain to win the World Cup, the European Championship and the UEFA Champions League.

At club level, Beckenbauer won three consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues (1974–1976) with Bayern Munich, where he later became coach and president. After his playing career, he was inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame and named to several FIFA World Teams of Honor.

7. Ronaldo – 2 times

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, born 18 September 1976, is a Brazilian businessman, president of Real Valladolid, and former football striker. Nicknamed “O Fenomeno” (The Alien), he is one of the greatest players in football history. Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and won the Ballon d’Or twice (1997, 2002).

He started his career at Cruzeiro, then played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, ​​Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Corinthians, before retiring in 2011 due to injury. Ronaldo is the first player to break two world transfer records and is the youngest ever winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award (age 20) and the Ballon d’Or (age 21).

During his career, Ronaldo won the 2002–03 La Liga title with Real Madrid, titles with Inter and won the World Cup twice (1994, 2002). Off the pitch, he is an ambassador for FIFA and the United Nations Development Programme. Since 2018, he has been the owner of Real Valladolid, demonstrating his leadership in football after a legendary career.

8. Alfredo Di Stefano – 2 times

Alfredo Di Stefano (4 July 1926 – 7 July 2014) was a late Argentine footballer and manager, best known for his legendary career at Real Madrid. He formed a brilliant attacking partnership with Ferenc Puskás during Real Madrid’s dominance of Europe, winning five consecutive European Cups from 1956. Di Stefano represented three national teams (Argentina, Colombia, Spain) and won the Ballon d’Or in 1957 and 1959. Nicknamed “The Silver Arrow” (Saeta Rubia), he is inducted into the International Football Hall of Fame and is considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Di Stefano scored 228 goals in 329 La Liga games, the third highest of all time, and 216 goals in 285 domestic games for Real Madrid (1953–1964). In 2003, he was named Spain’s “Golden Player” and in 2004, he was named one of the FIFA 125 legends. He was also ranked 4th in France Football’s list of the best players of the 20th century. Di Stefano died in Madrid in 2014 of a heart attack, leaving a great legacy in the history of world football.

9. Kevin Keegan – 2 times

Joseph Kevin Keegan (born 14 February 1951 in Armthorpe, Doncaster, England) is a former football player and manager, considered one of the legends of English football. He is the only English player to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1978 and 1979, while playing for Liverpool and Hamburg. During his career, Keegan won three English First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and the European Cup with Liverpool, and helped Hamburg win the Bundesliga in 1978–1979. He was named in Pelé’s FIFA 100 list.

Keegan played for Scunthorpe United (1968), Liverpool (1971), Hamburg (1977), Southampton (1980), and Newcastle United (1982), where he helped them gain promotion before retiring in 1984. Having won 63 caps for England, scoring 21 goals, he continued his successful managerial career. Taking charge of Newcastle United from 1992, Keegan guided them to the Premier League, where they finished runners-up in the 1995–96 season. He was manager of England (1999–2000), Manchester City (2001–2005), and returned to Newcastle in 2008 before retiring as a manager. Keegan left a lasting legacy both on and off the pitch.

10. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2 times

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (born 25 September 1955) is a German football executive and former player. He is currently Chairman of the Executive Board of FC Bayern München AG, a subsidiary of the Bayern Munich club. During his playing career, Rummenigge enjoyed great success with Bayern Munich, winning two European Cups, two German championships and numerous other domestic titles. He also won the Ballon d’Or twice in 1980 and 1981, and was a member of the West Germany team, helping them win the 1980 European Championship and reach the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

Rummenigge joined Bayern Munich in 1974 from Borussia Lippstadt for a transfer fee of just €10,000. Initially, his goalscoring ability was not impressive, but after the arrival of coach Pal Csernai in 1979, Rummenigge became one of the Bundesliga’s best strikers, winning the Golden Boot in the 1980–81 and 1983–84 seasons. He was also a key part of Bayern’s European Cup victories in 1975 and 1976, and although he did not play in the 1975 final, he played a major role in Bayern’s Intercontinental Cup victory in 1976.

Conclusion

This list of who has the most ballon d’or awards is a testament to the excellence of great footballers, not only in each match but also in each season. Each individual has written glorious pages in the history of the king of sports with talent, passion and relentless determination. The Ballon d’Or is not only a reward for individual efforts but also a symbol of greatness in football history, where only the best can reach. These players are not only the shining stars in the football sky, but also the inspiration for millions of fans and future generations of players around the world.

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