Most men's Ballon d'Or wins 1956-2024, by player

As of 2024, Lionel Messi had won the Ballon d'Or more times than any other player in the world, with eight awards in total. His most recent Ballon d’Or was awarded in 2023 following his first ever World Cup win with Argentina. Meanwhile, Messi’s professional rival Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award five times, the last time coming in 2017.

Who is Lionel Messi?

Born in Rosario in 1987, Lionel Messi is one of the most talented soccer players in the history of the sport. Looking at the teams Messi contributed the most to in terms of trophies, his heroics at Barcelona stand well above the rest. In 2023, Messi signed a two-year contract with American club Inter Miami. His influence was immediately felt online, with Inter Miami’s social media following surging following the announcement of Messi’s imminent arrival.

Messi vs. Ronaldo

Few can compare to the Argentinian when it comes to ability, but Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly part of the discussion. Ronaldo’s awards are every bit as impressive as Messi’s, with the former having won more UEFA Champions League titles. Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo is the player with the highest combined social media following worldwide, with around 300 thousand more followers than Messi as of February 2023. Ronaldo was also the highest paid athlete worldwide in the 2023/24 season, earning significantly higher than Messi in terms of salary, but slightly less in endorsements.