Which countries and players have won the most Ballon d’Or awards?

Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won all of his country’s eight prizes, while Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has won five. Save Share With less than a week until the winners of the Ballon d’Or awards are announced, speculation is growing over who will claim this year’s coveted prize in the star-studded men’s category. While veteran stars likeHarry Kane, record-breaking winner Lionel Messi and teen talentLamine Yamalare favourites, the award has been notoriously unpredictable. Organisers say the trophy is awarded based on three criteria, in order of importance: Shortlisted candidates will be judged for their performances between August 3, 2025 and July 19, 2026 – the day of this year’s World Cup final. The 30-player shortlist features three former winners: eight-time winner and Argentinian icon Messi, holder Ousmane Dembele of France, and 2024 winner and Spanish midfielder Rodri. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at which countries have won the most Ballon d’Or awards since the men’s prize was created in 1956: All of Argentina’s Ballon d’Or trophies have been won by one of the all-time football greats, Messi, who announced his retirement from international football in August after leading his country to finish runners-up at the World Cup and winning the Major League Soccer title with Inter Miami. The 39-year-old has clinched the award a record eight times: 2009-2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Last year’s winner, Dembele, took France’s tally to a record eight awards, won by six men spanning several generations. Several teammates, who helped lead France to fourth place at the World Cup, join him on the shortlist:Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano. Previous French winners include: Portugal’s seven awards are courtesy of just three men; Eusebio (1965), Luis Figo (2000), and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who, along with Messi, has dominated the awards for the past two decades (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). Unlike Messi, however, Ronaldo has been excluded from the shortlist for a fourth consecutive year. Other teammates who could give Portugal an eighth win are Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha. Germany last saw a Ballon d’Or winner in 1996 courtesy of Matthias Sammer, but enjoyed success in years prior. No German player has made the shortlist this year. Previous winners are: Similar to Germany, the Netherlands last saw Ballon d’Or success in the 1990s and does not have any players shortlisted for the men’s award....