Who’s the best footballer of all time? The reply to this can differ in keeping with the one who solutions it. However some names would possibly pop up greater than others. For years, Ballon d’Or has been broadly recognised as one of many largest vindications of the best participant of that 12 months. So, who has gained essentially the most Ballon d’Or awards?
With Lionel Messi anticipated to win his file eighth award, right here’s a have a look at the gamers who’ve gained the Ballon d’Or most times-
1- Lionel Messi- 7 (To be 8)
Similar to most individuals would say there’s an enormous hole between the No. 1 and the remaining by way of who’s the perfect, the identical is mirrored in these rankings.
The Argentina “accomplished soccer” when he gained the World Cup final winter and is ready to be awarded for that achievement together with his eighth Ballon d’Or quickly. He’s additionally the most embellished footballer of all time.
He was already prime of the listing with seven, together with his wins coming in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
The four-year streak from 2009 to 2012 was when Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona with him and Messi redefined and distorted what’s goalscoring determine. The 2011 season is when he scored 91 targets in a calendar 12 months, nonetheless a file to this present day, unlikely to ever be damaged.
The 2015 season was when he gained the treble with the memorable “MSN” trio.
Copa America wins mixed with sustained particular person and membership excellence sealed the 2019 and 2021 trophies for him.
The likes of Haaland and Mbappe are recognised because the inheritor obvious to Messi and Ronaldo, however it will be a shock if both participant reaches Messi on this rating.
2- Cristiano Ronaldo- 5
Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to end his profession with 5 awards however that’s extra a mirrored image on the period he was born in as an alternative of his expertise.
It’s not past the realms of risk that Ronaldo would have completed with double figures in Ballon d’Or awards had Messi not existed, and vice versa.
Ronaldo’s first got here in 2008 at Manchester United, when he gained the Champions League with the English membership and established himself because the rival to Messi, who hadn’t gained any but.
It was a Messi streak for 4 years earlier than Ronaldo got here again with a bang, profitable in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 as a part of the all-conquering Actual Madrid facet which made profitable the UCL a behavior underneath Ancelotti after which Zidane.
This iconic rivalry is now closing as after Messi’s eighth, neither participant is more likely to win one other. Soccer shall be poorer for his or her absence.
3- Johan Cruyff, Michael van Basten, and Michel Platini- 3
Dutch legend Johan Cruyff leads the listing of gamers who gained the celebrated award thrice. Cruyff gained it in 1971, 1973, and 1974 when the concept of “Complete Soccer” was making the footballing world go loopy and Cruyff was on the forefront of this revolution.
Platini repeated the feat a decade later. He accomplished a three-peat as he gained the award in 1983, 1984, and 1985. It was throughout his spell at Juventus that he completed the league top-scorer yearly throughout this era, plundering trophies at an unbelievable charge.
Cruyff’s countryman Van Basten was the following to do it, profitable the award in 1988, 1989, and 1992. Scoring virtually 300 targets in a profession minimize quick resulting from accidents at simply 28, he might have gone on to be the perfect of all time. His titles got here with the Milan facet that have been the envy of the world within the late 80s and early 90s.