List of Ballon d'Or Winners with the Most Awards in History

The Ballon d'Or award is considered the most prestigious individual award in football, synonymous with the title of the world's best player. Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or trophy after a stellar performance throughout the 2021-2022 season.

Winning the Ballon d'Or trophy is considered the pinnacle of individual success in any player's career. This achievement is a first in Benzema's career, after his best previous ranking of fourth place last year.

The player with the most Ballon d'Or awards of all time is Lionel Messi, who has won seven times. Next is Messi's rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, with 5 Ballon d'Or awards. This is followed by Michel Platini with 3 Ballon d'Or awards, won in 1983, 1984, and 1985.

Here is a list of players with the most Ballon d'Or awards of all time:

1. Lionel Messi: 7 times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021).
2. Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
3. Michel Platini: 3 times (1983, 1984, 1985)
4. Johan Cruyff: 3 times (1971, 1973, 1974)
5. Marco van Basten: 3 times (1988, 1989, 1992)
6. Franz Beckenbauer: 2 times (1972, 1976)
7. Ronaldo: 2 times (1997, 2002)
8. Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2 times (1957, 1959)
9. Kevin Keegan: 2 times (1978, 1979)
10. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: 2 times (1980, 1981)

First launched and awarded in 1956 by France Football magazine, the Ballon d'Or, or "Golden Ball" in French, is the most prestigious individual award in world football, for both male and female players worldwide.

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