Most Ballon d’Or Winners at a Glance
Lionel Messi leads the most ballon d’or winners with eight men’s awards: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second with five. Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten share third with three each.
This main ranking refers to the men’s Ballon d’Or; the Ballon d’Or Feminin is a separate award introduced in 2018. Use this snapshot as the quick Ballon d’Or winners list before the full ranking. It shows players with at least three men’s wins, where the record race is clearest across eras.
| Player | Men’s wins | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Michel Platini | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
| Johan Cruyff | 3 | 1971, 1973, 1974 |
| Marco van Basten | 3 | 1988, 1989, 1992 |
Records can change, but the top line is stable for now: Messi is first, Ronaldo is second, and three historic winners sit together on three. Later sections explain voting, eligibility changes, English winners, and common mix-ups with FIFA The Best.
What Is the Ballon d’Or Award?
The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award created by France Football in 1956. It began as the European Footballer of the Year prize and is now widely viewed as one of football’s most prestigious individual honours.
In simple terms, it recognises the player judged to have had the strongest season. Fans often use the ballon d’or winners list as a shorthand for football greatness, because the award connects individual quality with major team success.
This article focuses mainly on the men’s Ballon d’Or, because its history dates back to the original award. The Ballon d’Or Feminin is separate, began in 2018, and has its own line of recipients.
The prize matters because it gives each era a reference point. Stanley Matthews was the first winner, Lionel Messi holds the men’s record, and later sections explain how voting, eligibility, and the football season affect the result.
For a beginner, the easiest way to understand it is as a season review in one trophy. It rewards individual performances and decisive character, team achievements, and class and fair play, rather than only goals or popularity.
How Does Ballon d’Or Voting Work?
The Ballon d’Or vote starts with a 30-player shortlist, produced for the men’s award before the final ballot. That shortlist matters because it narrows a full football season into the players judged most worthy of the prize.
Britannica describes the current jury as one journalist from each country in the top 100 of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking. Each voter ranks ten players, giving 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 points.
| Voting element | How it works |
|---|---|
| Shortlist | 30 men’s nominees |
| Jury | Journalists from top-100 FIFA-ranked countries |
| Points | 15 to 1 across ten ranked choices |
| Criteria | Individual displays, team trophies, class, fair play |
Voters do not simply pick the most famous name. The stated criteria are individual performances and decisive character, team achievements, and class and fair play, so elite output, major trophies, and conduct all matter.
Since the 2022 rules change, the award is judged over the football season rather than the calendar year. That shift helps voters compare players within one club season and its linked international tournaments.
The final winner is the player with the highest points total after all ballots are counted. If fans see different rankings online, the official result is still based on the published voting procedure, not public polls.
In 2024, UEFA became co-organiser of the gala, while France Football retained the name and voting system. That detail is important in ballon d’or history because the ceremony partnership changed, but the award identity did not.
Most Ballon d’Or Winners Ranked
The ballon d’or winners list below focuses on the men’s award and ranks only players with multiple official wins. This ranked table shows the most ballon d’or winners in football history, from Messi’s eight awards to the group of two-time greats. Use it as a quick guide to ballon d’or winners with repeated success.
| Rank | Player | Wins | Winning Years | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 | Record holder; four straight wins from 2009 to 2012. |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 | Second overall; his wins came across 2008 to 2017. |
| 3 | Michel Platini | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1985 | Only listed player with three consecutive wins. |
| 3 | Johan Cruyff | 3 | 1971, 1973, 1974 | First player to win three awards. |
| 3 | Marco van Basten | 3 | 1988, 1989, 1992 | Three-time Dutch winner across the late 1980s and early 1990s. |
| 6 | Franz Beckenbauer | 2 | 1972, 1976 | Only defender to win twice. |
| 6 | Ronaldo of Brazil | 2 | 1997, 2002 | Youngest winner in 1997 at 21 years and 96 days. |
| 6 | Alfredo Di Stefano | 2 | 1957, 1959 | Later received the one-off Super Ballon d’Or. |
| 6 | Kevin Keegan | 2 | 1978, 1979 | English winner with back-to-back awards. |
| 6 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | 2 | 1980, 1981 | Two wins at the start of the 1980s. |
Among the most ballon d’or winners, Messi and Ronaldo stand apart because their totals reached eight and five. The next tier stops at three, shared by Platini, Cruyff, and Van Basten. That gap shows how hard it is to stay decisive across many seasons.
Multiple winners are rare because the voting rewards a blend of individual performance, team achievement, and fair play. A player usually needs more than one elite season, strong results in major competitions, and enough support from international journalists to finish above changing shortlists.
Read tied ranks carefully. Three players sit level on three wins, while five players share two wins. The ranking therefore reflects total awards first, then uses no extra tiebreaker for dates, nationality, or playing role.
How Ballon d’Or History Changed by Era
The award has changed because football itself changed. Its early rules favoured European players, then European clubs, and later the full world game. That shift makes any ballon d’or history timeline a story of widening eligibility, changing voters, and new assessment periods.
| Era | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 European-only beginnings | France Football launched the award as European Footballer of the Year, so only European players could win. | Stanley Matthews became the first winner, starting a record book with narrow eligibility. |
| 1970s Cruyff and Beckenbauer era | Johan Cruyff won three awards, while Franz Beckenbauer won twice in this period. | The decade showed that more than one player type could shape the top of the winners list. |
| 1980s Platini and Van Basten | Michel Platini won three in a row, then Marco van Basten collected three wins across 1988, 1989, and 1992. | Those streaks became useful context for the later Messi and Ronaldo records. |
| 1995 European clubs expansion | Eligibility opened to all players at European clubs, not only European players. | George Weah became the first non-European winner and remains the only African recipient. |
| 2007 global eligibility | The award became global, allowing players outside Europe to fit the main eligibility frame. | The winners list now reflected world football more directly, not just European leagues. |
| 2010-2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or merger | The award merged with FIFA World Player of the Year during this period. | It then separated again in 2016, so those years should be read as a merger period. |
| 2008-2017 Messi-Ronaldo dominance | Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo controlled the award’s centre, winning every men’s award in that span. | This era made the modern record chase easy to understand for newer fans. |
| 2020 cancellation and 2022 rules | The 2020 award was not given because of the COVID-19 pandemic; from 2022, judging moved to the football season. | The rule change reduced calendar-year confusion and made club seasons and international tournaments easier to assess together. |
| Recent post-duopoly winners | After the long Messi-Ronaldo cycle, newer winners showed that the race can reset. | Ousmane Dembele was the 2025 men’s winner, but future records can still change. |
These era changes explain why older and newer totals need context. A player before 1995 faced a smaller eligible field, while a modern winner faces global competition, season-based judging, a shortlist, and voting rules shaped by France Football’s current system.
Messi vs Ronaldo Ballon d’Or Records
The clean answer to how many ballon d’or does messi have is eight. Cristiano Ronaldo has five, so Messi leads the men’s Ballon d’Or record by three awards. Their totals define the modern record race, but the award still judges each eligible football season on its own merits.
| Player | Total men’s wins | Winning years | Record note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 | Record holder; four straight wins from 2009 to 2012 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 | Second overall among men’s winners |
Messi’s run from 2009 to 2012 remains the clearest gap between the two players. Ronaldo won in 2008, then returned with two pairs in 2013-2014 and 2016-2017, showing how long both stayed near the top of football’s highest individual award.
The rivalry also shows why a Ballon d’Or winners list should separate personal totals from voting cycles. A player can win more awards without winning every major team trophy, because France Football balances individual impact, team success, and sporting conduct.
For readers comparing eras, Ronaldo’s five wins would have been a standalone all-time record before Messi moved beyond him. Messi’s eight now sets the benchmark for most ballon d’or winners, while Ronaldo remains clearly second in the men’s award’s official history. That order is simple, but future ceremonies could change totals.
Common Ballon d’Or Misconceptions
Several Ballon d’Or myths come from rule changes, FIFA partnerships, and wider football debates. The safest way to read any official roll of honor is to separate confirmed awards from comparisons, assumptions, and separate trophies, especially when records span different eras.
- Myth: Pele officially won seven Ballon d’Or awards. Fact: France Football’s retroactive analysis suggested he would have won seven under wider eligibility, but those awards were hypothetical, not official, because he was ineligible under the old rules.
- Myth: Winning the World Cup automatically decides the Ballon d’Or. Fact: The vote also considers individual performances, decisive character, team achievements, class, and fair play across the football season, not one tournament alone.
- Myth: The Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best are the same award. Fact: They are separate today, although the Ballon d’Or merged with FIFA World Player of the Year from 2010 to 2015, then separated again in 2016.
- Myth: Only forwards can win the Ballon d’Or. Fact: Attackers often dominate, but Lev Yashin won as a goalkeeper in 1963, and Franz Beckenbauer won twice as a defender.
- Myth: The men’s award is identical to the Ballon d’Or Feminin. Fact: They share the France Football brand, but the women’s prize is separate, began in 2018, and has its own winners.
Interesting Ballon d’Or Winners and Records
Records add context to any ballon d’or winners list because they show how different roles, ages, and eras shaped the award. Some marks are stable history, while others may change as France Football keeps judging each football season through its current system.
| Record | Holder or event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest winner | Ronaldo of Brazil | 21 years and 96 days in 1997 |
| Oldest winner | Stanley Matthews | 41 years and 321 days in 1956 |
| Only goalkeeper | Lev Yashin | Won in 1963 |
| Defensive record | Franz Beckenbauer | Only defender to win twice |
| First non-European winner | George Weah | 1995 winner and only African recipient |
| Unique extra award | Alfredo Di Stefano | Super Ballon d’Or awarded once in 1989 |
| No award | 2020 | Cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Latest confirmed winner | Ousmane Dembele | 2025 men’s winner |
Ronaldo of Brazil is the benchmark when fans discuss the youngest ballon d’or winners, but the same records table also highlights longevity. Stanley Matthews winning at 41 years and 321 days remains a reminder that influence is not limited to early-career stars.
The records also explain why the men’s award is more than a forwards’ popularity contest. A goalkeeper has won once, a defender has built a two-win legacy, and eligibility changes helped the first non-European recipient enter the official history.
The 2020 cancellation matters because it leaves a rare blank year in the record book. Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 men’s winner, is the latest confirmed name here, not a prediction.
English Ballon d’Or Winners
UK readers often search for english ballon d’or winners because the award links club memories with national football history. The wider ballon d’or winners list also shows how rare repeat success is, even for countries with deep talent pools.
| Player | Year or years | England note |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley Matthews | 1956 | First winner and oldest Ballon d’Or recipient at 41 years and 321 days. |
| Bobby Charlton | 1966 | England winner in a World Cup year. |
| Kevin Keegan | 1978 and 1979 | Back-to-back English winner with two awards. |
| Michael Owen | 2001 | Latest English recipient listed here. |
This table of english ballon d’or winners helps a GB audience spot where England fits before checking global country rankings. England’s five wins sit below Messi’s Argentina total of eight, level with Ronaldo’s Portugal tally, and below the known Netherlands total of six from Cruyff and van Basten.
For France, Germany, Brazil, and Italy, use the complete official list before making a country table, because this section only names verified English recipients and selected all-time record holders.
Related Ballon d’Or Football Terms
- Ballon d’Or Feminin: the separate women’s award introduced in 2018, with winners including Ada Hegerberg, Megan Rapinoe, Alexia Putellas, and Aitana Bonmati.
- Kopa Trophy: a related France Football prize for young players, separate from the main men’s Ballon d’Or vote.
- Yashin Trophy: a related goalkeeper award, useful because Lev Yashin remains the only goalkeeper to win the main prize.
- FIFA The Best: a separate FIFA award, not the same as the Ballon d’Or.
- FIFA Ballon d’Or: the 2010 to 2015 merger between the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.
- European Footballer of the Year: the original award identity when France Football launched it in 1956.
- Shortlist: the current 30-player list considered by eligible journalists before final voting.
- Nomination: a place on that shortlist, not proof that a player is a serious title contender.
- Podium finish: a top-three placing in the final results, often cited in player legacy debates.
- For context, pair this glossary with World Cup records, Champions League winners, football transfers, and most goals guides.
Most Ballon d’Or Winners FAQ
Who has the most Ballon d’Or wins?
For most ballon d’or winners searches, Lionel Messi is the direct answer. The ballon d’or winners record belongs to him, with eight men’s awards across 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo is next with five.
how many ballon d’or does messi have?
Messi has eight. Ronaldo has five: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Their rivalry shaped the modern record table after the award became global, and it remains the easiest starting point for new fans comparing elite football careers across eras.
Did Pele ever win the Ballon d’Or?
No. Pele did not officially win because the award was European-only during his career. France Football later suggested he would have won seven times under modern eligibility, including 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, and 1970, but that was hypothetical.
Who was the youngest Ballon d’Or winner?
Ronaldo of Brazil is the youngest winner, aged 21 years and 96 days in 1997. Stanley Matthews, the first winner in 1956, is also the oldest winner, aged 41 years and 321 days, which shows how wide the award’s history is.
Is the Ballon d’Or the same as FIFA The Best, and who is the latest winner?
No. The Ballon d’Or is France Football’s award. It merged with FIFA World Player of the Year from 2010 to 2015 as the FIFA Ballon d’Or, then separated in 2016. FIFA The Best is separate. Ousmane Dembele was the 2025 men’s winner.
Most Ballon d’Or Winners Conclusion
Messi remains the clear record holder in men’s football history with eight men’s Ballon d’Or wins, while Ronaldo follows with five. Behind them, Platini, Cruyff, and Van Basten show how the record grew as eligibility moved from European-only roots to the global game today.
That is the key takeaway from this most ballon d’or winners guide: eligibility, voting, and season context matter as much as totals. Next, compare these legends through most goals, football transfers, Champions League records, and World Cup legends to see how greatness looks from different angles.