Each participant price his salt goals of successful the Ballon d’Or sooner or later. Nonetheless, laying palms on probably the most coveted accolade in soccer is less complicated mentioned than accomplished. One should fend off competitors from the perfect gamers on the planet to get into the shortlist. Then, they need to preserve their head down and show to the selectors that they’re worthy of being referred to as the perfect participant on the planet.
As now we have witnessed all through historical past — most lately in 2024 —, some gamers fail to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist regardless of giving their all all year long. The one technique to assure inclusion is to ship performances that take away the room for hypothesis.
In in the present day’s article, we are going to try some legends who grew to become a frequent contender by delivering jaw-dropping performances yr after yr. Listed below are the highest 5 gamers with probably the most Ballon d’Or nominations in historical past:
#5 Karim Benzema: 12 Nominations
One of many most interesting goalscorers of the twenty first century, Karim Benzema has made the Ballon d’Or shortlist a whopping 12 instances. He has obtained 4 extra nominations than arguably the perfect participant in France’s soccer historical past, Zinedine Zidane.
After falling brief the previous 10 instances, Benzema lastly ended his watch for the Ballon d’Or in 2022. He loved his best-ever season with Actual Madrid in 2021-22, scoring 44 instances and offering 15 assists in 46 video games throughout competitions. His targets and assists helped Los Blancos to the UEFA Champions League trophy, the La Liga title, and the Supercopa de Espana.
#4 Johan Cruyff: 12 Nominations
Ajax, Barcelona, and Netherlands legend Johan Cruyff earned 12 Ballon d’Or nominations throughout his illustrious profession, successful the coveted Golden Ball thrice. He gained his first one after serving to Ajax to the European Cup on the finish of the 1970-71 season. The second got here in 1973 after he led Ajax to an Eredivisie-European Cup double. The final one, in the meantime, arrived in 1974, following his La Liga triumph with Barcelona.
An attacking midfielder by trait, Johan Cruyff revolutionized soccer, instructing the world the craft of taking part in not solely with their toes but in addition their thoughts. He was equally profitable as a supervisor, successful 4 La Liga titles and the European Cup with Barcelona amongst different honors.
#3 Paolo Maldini: 13 Nominations
One membership man Paolo Maldini deservedly earned 13 Ballon d’Or nominations over the course of his illustrious senior-team profession between 1985 and 2009. Shockingly, the selectors by no means deemed him ok to face on the highest step and settle for the Golden Ball.
Maldini spent his total profession at Serie A membership AC Milan. Rising by means of the membership’s ranks, the Italy icon secured his skilled contract in 1985, and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past. The legendary left-back performed a staggering 901 video games for AC Milan, scoring 33 instances and offering 43 assists. He gained 26 trophies with the Rossoneri, together with 5 European Cups/Champions Leagues and 7 Serie A titles.
#2 Lionel Messi: 16 Nominations
Probably the most embellished participant within the historical past of soccer, Lionel Messi has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or a whopping 16 instances. Extra impressively, the Argentine genius gained the coveted accolade a document eight instances, completed second on 5 events, and got here third as soon as. He completed outdoors of the highest three in simply two situations.
The Barcelona icon gained 4 consecutive Ballon d’Or awards between 2009 and 2012. In that interval, he had gained three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues, amongst different honors. His subsequent one got here in 2015 after Barcelona gained one other Treble. He gained two extra in 2019 and 2021, earlier than wrapping it up together with his eighth win in 2023. Messi’s final Ballon d’Or arrived after he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo: 18 Nominations
Cristiano Ronaldo might have misplaced to Lionel Messi within the Ballon d’Or race, however the Portugal icon has the sting in the case of nominations. The Al-Nassr celebrity has been nominated for the Golden Ball a document 18 instances, rising because the award’s most frequent contender. The previous Actual Madrid man has 5 Ballon d’Or awards to his title, with solely Messi successful the award extra instances than him.
Ronaldo gained his first Ballon d’Or as a Manchester United participant in 2008. He took house the trophy after successful the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, and the Carabao Cup with United in 2007-08. Ronaldo’s subsequent 4 got here throughout his nine-year keep at Actual Madrid (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). The victory in 2016 should have been probably the most particular one for Ronaldo, as he secured the award after successful the UEFA Champions League with Actual Madrid and the 2016 European Championship with Portugal.
