Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards? Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo headline list

There is no greater individual prize for soccer’s best talents than the Ballon d’Or.

First awarded in 1956, the award is as enchanting as it is prestigious. It has honored some of the sport’s greatest-ever talents, from Lev Yashin and Eusebio to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Conversely, the 31-centimeter-tall, 23-centimeter-wide heirloom has eluded many of the beautiful game’s grandest practitioners, too. Pelé didn’t win one. Neither did Diego Maradona. The closest Thierry Henry came was a second-place finish in 2003.

In other words, the Ballon d’Or — and its sister prize, the Ballon d’Or Féminin — is one of sport’s most noteworthy titles.

So which players have collected the most golden orbs in soccer history? Here’s what you need to know.

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Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?

No player has claimed more Ballon d’Or awards than Lionel Messi. The Argentine has taken home the prize on eight occasions, three more than his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Ten players have hoisted the Ballon d’Or multiple times:

MORE: Inside Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or wins

Ballon d’Or winners by year

Men’s Ballon d’Or winners

The first Ballon d’Or was awarded in 1956. Stanley Matthews lifted the prize after dazzling with his close control and sumptuous crossing for Blackpool. Real Madrid and Spain standout Alfredo Di Stefano was the first player to win the title on multiple occasion after receiving the award in 1957 and 1959.

Dutch giant Johan Cruyff landed the award three times in the 1970s, while Frenchmen Michel Platini nabbed three consecutive titles in the 1980s.

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The past few decades have been defined by Messi and Ronaldo, who combined for 10 straight Ballon d’Or crowns between 2008-2017.

Messi won the 2021 Ballon d’Or, beating out Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho by a narrow margin for his seventh trophy. He finished ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe two years later.

Here’s a full look at a list of men’s Ballon d’Or winners over the years:

MORE: Ballon d’Or voting explained

Women’s Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or Feminin was first awarded in 2018, with the 2020 event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ada Hegerberg was the inaugural winner, followed by USWNT great Megan Rapinoe. Barcelona have dominated since, Alexia Putellas winning in 2021 and 2022, and Aitana Bonmati notching titles in 2023 and 2024.

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