A look at which countries have won the most Ballon d'Or awards since 1956, with Argentina and France leading on eight each.
01Summary
- 01Argentina's eight Ballon d'Or awards have all been won by Lionel Messi, who has won the award a record eight times (2009-2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023).
- 02France also has eight awards, won by six different players; Ousmane Dembele is the current holder (2025).
- 03Portugal has seven awards, from Eusebio (1965), Luis Figo (2000) and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
- 04The Netherlands have won seven awards, all in the 1970s-1990s, with no players on the 2026 shortlist.
- 05England’s five awards include the inaugural winner Stanley Matthews in 1956; Harry Kane is a contender for the 2026 prize.
02Why it matters
The Ballon d'Or is football's most prestigious individual prize, and understanding which nations have produced winners shows the shifting power bases in the sport.
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