The Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 1956, and throughout its history only five players have won it at least three times. Lionel Messi leads the all-time ranking with eight awards, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five. Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten complete the group of the most decorated players with three each.
Who Has Won the Most Ballon d'Or Awards in History?
Lionel Messi comfortably leads the all-time ranking with eight Ballon d'Or awards, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five. Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten complete the group of players to have won the prize at least three times.
The most recent edition, held in 2025, was won by Ousmane Dembélé. The French forward added his name to the list of winners, but his victory did not change the top positions in a ranking dominated by Messi and Cristiano.
Lionel Messi holds the all-time record
Lionel Messi owns the outright record with eight Ballon d'Or awards. The Argentine won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. His first major run included four consecutive victories from 2009 through 2012, a streak no other player has matched.
His first six awards came during his time at Barcelona. In 2021, he received his seventh after already joining Paris Saint-Germain, while in 2023 he claimed number eight after leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar. That latest triumph extended his advantage over Cristiano Ronaldo to three awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second
Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. His first came during his time at Manchester United, with the other four arriving while he played for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese star was Messi's main rival during the period when the pair dominated the award. Every Ballon d'Or presented from 2008 through 2017 went to one of them. That ten-year run ended in 2018, when Luka Modrić won the trophy.
Platini, Cruyff and Van Basten have three each
Behind Messi and Cristiano are three European legends. Michel Platini won in 1983, 1984 and 1985, completing three consecutive victories during his Juventus career. Johan Cruyff was honored in 1971, 1973 and 1974, while Marco van Basten won in 1988, 1989 and 1992.
The next tier features five players with two Ballon d'Or awards: Alfredo Di Stéfano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Ronaldo Nazário.
The award was created by France Football in 1956. From 2010 through 2015 it was presented as the FIFA Ballon d'Or, and those editions remain part of the official historical record. The 2026 ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London; until then, Messi holds a three-award advantage over Cristiano at the top of the ranking.
