10 footballers who have won Ballon d’Or multiple times
The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious individual awards in world football, but winning it once is already a remarkable achievement. Winning it multiple times is a feat reserved for only a handful of footballing legends.
With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for October 26, attention is once again turning to the players competing for the biggest individual prize in football.
Each year, the award celebrates the player judged to have produced the most outstanding performances over the previous campaign. While many great players have lifted the trophy once, only 10 footballers in Ballon d’Or history have won the award more than once.
The exclusive list includes some of the greatest names the sport has ever produced, from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini.
10 footballers with multiple Ballon d’Or wins
Here are the players who have won the Ballon d’Or on at least two occasions:
1. Lionel Messi – 8 Ballon d’Or wins
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or victories, having won the prestigious award eight times.
His victories came in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023, cementing his status as the most decorated player in the history of the award.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 Ballon d’Or wins
Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the all-time list with five Ballon d’Or awards.
The Portuguese superstar won in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, establishing himself as Messi’s closest rival during one of the greatest individual rivalries in football history.
3. Michel Platini – 3 Ballon d’Or wins
French legend Michel Platini won the Ballon d’Or three consecutive times.
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He claimed the award in 1983, 1984 and 1985, becoming one of the most dominant players of his generation.
4. Johan Cruyff – 3 Ballon d’Or wins
Johan Cruyff also won the prestigious award three times.
The Dutch icon was crowned Europe’s best player in 1971, 1973 and 1974, during a period in which his influence helped define the famous Total Football era.
5. Marco van Basten – 3 Ballon d’Or wins
Marco van Basten is another three-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The Dutch striker won the award in 1988, 1989 and 1992, with his exceptional finishing and technical ability making him one of the outstanding forwards of his era.
6. Franz Beckenbauer – 2 Ballon d’Or wins
German football legend Franz Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1972 and 1976.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, Beckenbauer was also a revolutionary figure in the sweeper role.
7. Ronaldo Nazário – 2 Ballon d’Or wins
Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazário claimed the Ballon d’Or twice.
The legendary striker won in 1997 and 2002, overcoming serious injury setbacks to remain one of the most feared attackers in world football.
8. Alfredo Di Stéfano – 2 Ballon d’Or wins
Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stéfano was a two-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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The Argentine-born Spanish international claimed the award in 1957 and 1959, during his hugely successful spell with Real Madrid.
9. Kevin Keegan – 2 Ballon d’Or wins
English football legend Kevin Keegan won the Ballon d’Or in consecutive years.
He was crowned Europe’s best player in 1978 and 1979, becoming one of only a small number of players to win the award more than once.
10. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2 Ballon d’Or wins
German forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge completed the list of multiple Ballon d’Or winners.
He won the award in 1980 and 1981, following a highly successful period with Bayern Munich and the West Germany national team.
Only 10 players have won the Ballon d’Or more than once.
Across almost seven decades of Ballon d’Or history, only 10 footballers have managed to win the award more than once.
Messi leads the way with eight victories, followed by Ronaldo with five, while Platini, Cruyff and Van Basten each won the award three times.
The remaining five players on the list — Beckenbauer, Ronaldo Nazário, Di Stéfano, Keegan and Rummenigge — each have two Ballon d’Or victories.
With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching on October 26, the question now is whether another player will join this exclusive group.
Who will win the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Edem Kwame
Chief Editor
Edem Kwame is a staff journalist at GH News Media, where he covers sports, politics, news and current affairs with a sharp focus on Ghanaian and African football.
