Full list of Ballon d'Or winners from 1956 to date

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Since 1956, the Ballon d'Or, the brainchild of two visionary French journalists, has been used to mark the world's most talented football players. As soccer's most coveted silver, the trophy is the crowning glory for a player's performance and their team's success in the previous season. Discover the complete list of Ballon d'Or winners, celebrating the sport's finest talents since 1956.

Marco Van Basten (L), Cristiano Ronaldo (C) and Lionel Messi (R).

We strive to provide our readers with valuable information through our rankings and lists. We used data from France Football, UEFA, and Transfermarkt to compile this list of all Ballon d'Or winners from 1956. The players are arranged in two categories: those with the most Ballon d'Or wins, followed by those with single wins.

Full list of Ballon d'Or winners

This list of Ballon d'Or winners from 1956 to date honours several players across different football clubs, with some winning the trophy multiple times.

At the time of writing, Lionel Messi leads the pack of high achievers as one of the players with the most trophies. Here is a list of the most Ballon d'Or winners and players with a single Ballon d'Or award.

Player	Nationality	Total Wins	Years
Lionel Messi	Argentinian	8	2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo	Portuguese	5	2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Marco Van Basten	Dutch	3	1988, 1989, 1992
Michel Platini	French	3	1983, 1984, 1985
Johann Cruyff	Dutch	3	1971, 1973, 1974
Ronaldo	Brazilian	2	1997, 2002
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	German	2	1980, 1981
Kevin Keegan	English	2	1978, 1979
Franz Backenbauer	German	2	1972, 1976
Alfredo Di Stéfano	Spanish-Argentinian	2	1957, 1959

1. Lionel Messi — 8

Lionel Messi laughs while posing infront of six Ballon d'Or trophies during his award ceremony.

Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Date of birth: 24 June 1987
Age: 37 years as of 2024
Status: Active
Team: Inter Miami CF
Position: Winger

Hailed as the GOAT of football, Messi holds eight Golden Ball trophies won between 2009 and 2023 and over eighty major trophies playing for different football clubs across national, regional, and international competitions. His latest trophy recognises his seven-goal performance for Argentina during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo — 5

Cristiano Ronaldo poses standing with three of his five Ballon d'Or trophies on a football field.

Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of birth: 5 February 1985
Age: 39 years as of 2024
Status: Active
Team: Al-Nassr FC
Position: Forward

Cristiano Ronaldo plays and captains Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. The football legend started playing in 1992 and has won the Ballon d'Or five times since 2008. His latest award in 2017 recognised his record of 56 matches with 49 goals and 147 caps with 78 goals with an election of 946 points.

3. Marco Van Basten — 3

Marco Van Basten raises his Ballon d'Or trophy in celebration (L). The footballer is pictured running on a football field (R).

Full name: Marcel Van Basten
Date of birth: 31 October 1964
Age: 59 years as of 2024
Status: Retired
Position: Forward

In his prime, Dutch legend Marco Van Basten was recognised as the best striker and goal scorer. He earned the nicknames Marco Goalo and the Flying Dutchman, an ode to his coach and idol, Johan Cruyff. His football prowess earned him three Ballon d'Or awards in 1988, 1989, and 1992.

4. Michel Platini — 3

Michel Platini is pictured looking at his 1983 Ballon d'Or trophy (L). The footballer poses standing with the trophy on a football field (R).

Full name: Michel François Platini
Date of birth: 21 June 1955
Age: 69 years as of 2024
Status: Retired
Position: Midfielder

Michel Platini is a former soccer player who rose through the football administration ranks to lead UEFA as president until 2016. He won the award for three consecutive years between 1983 and 1985 while playing for Juventus FC.

5. Johann Cruyff — 3

Johan Cruyff poses standing with his third Golden Ball in 1974 on a football field (L). The footballer receives his 1973 Ballon d'Or on a field (R)

Full name: Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
Date of birth: 25 April 1947
Date of death: 24 March 2016
Position: Forward, Midfielder

Dutch football legend Johann Cruyff is remembered as the father of modern football. As a player, the attacking midfielder won the award in 1971, 1973 and 1973 while playing for Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona. After a successful playing career, the Dutchman became one of the best football coaches.

6. Ronaldo — 2

Ronaldo poses while standing with his first Ballon d'Or trophy on a football field (L). The footballer laughs as he poses with his Golden Ball and FIFA World Player of the Year awards (R).

Full name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
Date of birth: 18 September 1976
Age: 47 years as of 2024
Status: Retired
Position: Striker

Ronaldo is the youngest football player to win the Ballon d'Or at 21 years of age, beating the previous record of 20 years. On 23 December 1997, he became the first-ever Brazilian winner with 222 points. His second award came in 2002 while playing for Inter Milan in Italy's Serie A.

7. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge — 2

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge poses standing on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées with the 1981 Golden Ball award.

Full name: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Date of birth: 25 September 1955
Age: 68 years as of 2024
Status: Retired
Position: Forward

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is a Bundesliga legend who played for FC Bayern München and later became its CEO. At the height of his playing days at FC Bayern München, he received the ultimate recognition with two Golden Ball trophies won in 1980 and 1981.

8. Kevin Keegan — 2

Kevin Keegan is pictured receiving the Golden Ball from a football official on a field (L). The footballer poses with the trophy in front of a crowd on a football field (R).

Full name: Joseph Kevin Keegan
Date of birth: 14 February 1951
Age: 73 years as of 2024
Status: Retired
Position: Forward

For two consecutive years, in 1978 and 1979, Kevin Keegan became the fifth Englishman to win the Golden Ball while playing for Hamburger SV. His triumph on the global stage was partly thanks to his skills, intelligence, and contributions on the home front.

9. Franz Beckenbauer — 2

Franz Beckenbauer of FC Bayern Munich is pictured running on a football field during a match (L). The footballer acknowledges fans while holding his Ballon d'Or award on a field (R).

Full name: Franz Anton Beckenbauer
Date of birth: 11 September 1945
Date of death: 7 January 2024
Position: Defender

Franz Backenbauer was a German football legend best remembered as one of the three men to win the World Cup as a player and coach. The sweeper played for the New York Cosmos and Hamburger SV after playing through the youth ranks of FC Bayern München, where he won two Ballon d'Or awards in 1972 and 1976.

10. Alfredo Di Stéfano — 2

Alfredo Di Stéfano poses with his Ballon d'Or in a room (L). The footballer is pictured sitting in front of his Super Ballon d'Or award (R).

Full name: Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé
Date of birth: 4 July 1926
Date of death: 7 July 2014
Position: Forward

Alfredo Di Stéfano is one of the pioneer recipients of the award, earning two Golden Ball trophies in 1957 and 1959. In 1957, the Spanish-Argentinian football player won by 72 points, a score he topped with eight points in 1959.

Other players on the Ballon d'Or winners list

In 1956, the inaugural trophy was awarded to Stanley Matthews, a pioneering footballer widely known as the Charlie Chaplin of football. Since then, forty-five soccer players have received the honours (as of September 2024). Here is a list of all players who hold at least one Golden Ball trophy.

Karim Benzema — 2022
Luka Modric — 2018
Kaká — 2007
Fabio Cannavaro — 2006
Ronaldinho — 2005
Andriy Shevchenko — 2004
Pavel Nedvěd — 2003
Michael Owen — 2001
Luís Figo — 2000
Rivaldo — 1999
Zinedine Zidane — 1998
Matthias Sammer — 1996
George Weah — 1995
Hristo Stoichkov — 1994
Roberto Baggio — 1993
Jean-Pierre Papin — 1991
Lothar Matthäus — 1990
Ruud Gullit — 1987
Igor Belanov — 1986
Paolo Rossi — 1982
Allan Simonsen — 1977
Oleg Blokhin — 1975
Gerd Müller — 1970
Gianni Rivera — 1969
George Best — 1968
Flórián Albert — 1967
Bobby Charlton — 1966
Eusébio — 1965
Denis Law — 1964
Lev Yashin — 1963
Josef Masopust — 1962
Omar Sívori — 1961
Luis Suárez Miramontes — 1960
Raymond Kopa — 1958
Stanley Matthews — 1956

How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?

Each year, the editorial team at France Football shortlists 30 contenders for that men's football season's Golden Ball award. 100 journalists representing FIFA's top-ranked nations are tasked with selecting and awarding points to the top five players. The player with the most points is declared the winner.

Who has the best Ballon d'Or award?

There is only one recipient of the Super Ballon d'Or. On 24 December 1989, Real Madrid's forward Alfredo Di Stéfano received it the award.

Who has the most Ballon d'Or nominations?

Between 2003 and 2022, Cristiano had received 19 consecutive nominations for the award. His Argentinian rival, Messi, had received 16 nominations as of 2024.

Is Ronaldo nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2024?

Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, long-time recipients of the Ballon d'Or, have not been included in the 2024 nominations list. Until 2022, the duo had never missed a spot on the Ballon d'Or nomination list. However, Messi made a comeback in 2023 with a nomination and a win.

Who has more Golden Boots, Messi or Ronaldo?

Eternal rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have distinguished themselves as the world's best football players. However, Messi has proven to be the better player winning six Golden Boot trophies between 2009 and 2018.

How many times has Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or?

Christiano Ronaldo received the French Football award five times: in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Brazilian legend Ronaldo also won two Ballon d'Or trophies. His second and last award was for his performance in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he contributed eight goals.

This full list of Ballon d'Or winners from 1956 to date features football players from nearly all corners of the world. To make it to the list, these players have exhibited exemplary talent, skill, leadership, and influence on and off the field. The upcoming 2024 Ballon d'Or awards seek to elevate the status of the game's top performers.

Legit.ng has published an article ranking the greatest passers in football history. At the top of the list are elite soccer players who have mastered the art of accurately finding teammates and beating the opposing team's defence to score.

The list of thirteen soccer stars features some football legends such as Cesc Fabregas, Andrés Iniesta, and Xabi Alonso. Read on to discover which of your favourite players made it to the top of the list.

Source: Legit.ng

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