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Ballon d'Or Wins by Player, 1956 to 2026

Lionel Messi has a record 8 Ballon d'Or awards, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo's 5. Harry Kane won the 2026 award with 1,055 points. Cumulative since 1956.

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What the data shows

  • In 2026, Lionel Messi ranks #1 with 8, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (5) and Michel Platini (3).
  • Back in 1956, Stanley Matthews was #1 with 1.
  • The top spot changed hands 3 times: Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1959, Johan Cruyff in 1974 and Lionel Messi in 2012.
  • Biggest climber: Lionel Messi, from #9 in 2009 to #1 in 2026.

About this chart

Lionel Messi holds the Ballon d'Or record with 8 wins: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo has 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and drew level with Messi at 5 in 2017 before Messi pulled ahead with his sixth in 2019. Messi took the outright lead in 2012, when his fourth win passed the three each held by Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.

Harry Kane won the 70th edition in 2026 with 1,055 points, ahead of Kylian Mbappe (1,027) and Lamine Yamal (881). Ousmane Dembele won in 2025. Stanley Matthews won the first award in 1956, and Platini won three in a row from 1983 to 1985. No award was given in 2020 because of COVID, and the 2010 to 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or years count as wins here.

The data

Source: Wikipedia, 'Ballon d'Or' (Wins by player), cumulative wins at each year; players with 2+ wins plus first winner Matthews and 2026 winner Kane. Retrieved November 4, 2026. No award in 2020 (COVID); the 2010-2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or years count as wins. England shown with the UK flag. Ronaldo Nazario is the Brazilian; Cristiano Ronaldo is listed separately.

Ballon d'Or Wins by Player, Cumulative Ballon d'Or awards, 1956-2026, 1956–2026
Date🇦🇷 Lionel Messi🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo🇫🇷 Michel Platini🇳🇱 Johan Cruyff🇳🇱 Marco van Basten🇩🇪 Franz Beckenbauer🇧🇷 Ronaldo (R9)🇪🇸 Alfredo Di Stéfano🇬🇧 Kevin Keegan🇩🇪 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge🇬🇧 Stanley Matthews🇬🇧 Harry Kane
1956000000000010
1957000000010010
1958000000010010
1959000000020010
1960000000020010
1961000000020010
1962000000020010
1963000000020010
1964000000020010
1965000000020010
1966000000020010
1967000000020010
1968000000020010
1969000000020010
1970000000020010
1971000100020010
1972000101020010
1973000201020010
1974000301020010
1975000301020010
1976000302020010
1977000302020010
1978000302021010
1979000302022010
1980000302022110
1981000302022210
1982000302022210
1983001302022210
1984002302022210
1985003302022210
1986003302022210
1987003302022210
1988003312022210
1989003322022210
1990003322022210
1991003322022210
1992003332022210
1993003332022210
1994003332022210
1995003332022210
1996003332022210
1997003332122210
1998003332122210
1999003332122210
2000003332122210
2001003332122210
2002003332222210
2003003332222210
2004003332222210
2005003332222210
2006003332222210
2007003332222210
2008013332222210
2009113332222210
2010213332222210
2011313332222210
2012413332222210
2013423332222210
2014433332222210
2015533332222210
2016543332222210
2017553332222210
2018553332222210
2019653332222210
2020653332222210
2021753332222210
2022753332222210
2023853332222210
2024853332222210
2025853332222210
2026853332222211

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Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most Ballon d'Or awards?

Lionel Messi has won the most, with 8 Ballon d'Or awards. Cristiano Ronaldo is next with 5.

Who won the 2026 Ballon d'Or?

Harry Kane won the 70th Ballon d'Or in 2026 with 1,055 points. Kylian Mbappe was second with 1,027 and Lamine Yamal third with 881.

Who won the first Ballon d'Or?

Stanley Matthews won the first award, in 1956. Alfredo Di Stefano led with 2 wins from 1959 until Johan Cruyff's third in 1974.

Where does this data come from?

Wikipedia, 'Ballon d'Or' (Wins by player), cumulative wins at each year; players with 2+ wins plus first winner Matthews and 2026 winner Kane. Retrieved November 4, 2026. No award in 2020 (COVID); the 2010-2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or years count as wins. England shown with the UK flag. Ronaldo Nazario is the Brazilian; Cristiano Ronaldo is listed separately. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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