Messi & Ronaldo top: Which players have won the most Ballon d'Ors?

Awards tonight 

The Ballon d’Or 2025 will be announced this evening in a glamorous ceremony in Paris. It’s widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in football and notable stars will descend on the French capital for a night of celebration. First established by magazine France Football in 1956, the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best player from the previous season.

It was originally voted for exclusively by journalists until 2006 but that has evolved across the years but it’s reverted back to journalists from the top 100 Fifa-ranked nations deciding the winners. Ousmane Dembélé is the favourite this year with the French international enjoying an incredible individual season with PSG, providing 43 goal contributions to fire Luis Enrique’s men to their first Champions League crown. Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are also in contention but which players have collected the prestigious award most across history? Let’s find out!

Which player is the most decorated Ballon d’Or winner?

Lionel Messi is the most decorated Ballon d’Or winner, after collecting the iconic award eight times across his incredible career. The Argentinian superstar first won the Ballon d’Or in 2009 while 22 years old at Barcelona and won it four years in a row, which represents a record. Seven of Messi’s titles arrived at Barca but he also won it in 2023 when he was contracted to Inter Miami after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.

 Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second with five titles and the Portugal international developed a fierce competitive rivalry with Messi. The Ballon d’Or was won by one of the legendary duo for ten years before Luka Modrić was victorious in 2017. Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten have all won the award three times with five players level on two awards.