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#3 Luka Modric - 837 points
Luka Modric has the distinction of being the player to have finally broken the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly over Ballon d'Or. The Croatian international won the Ballon d'Or in 2018 and it was well deserved.
The midfielder played a starring role in Croatia's journey to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He had also won a third consecutive Champions League with Real Madrid that same year. Modric had a great summer and he was finally getting the recognition he always deserved.
Modric has amassed 837 points in the Ballon d'Or race. He was also chosen as the FIFA Best Men's Player of 2018. It was a wonderful year for the diminutive Croat, who has been crucial to Real Madrid's dominance in Europe in the last decade.
#2 Lionel Messi - 2961 points
That's right. The record six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not at the top of the list. He comes second with 2961 points. Messi has won the Ballon d'Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019.
He finished second in the Ballon d'Or race on five separate occasions as well. Messi also finished third once. Messi is tipped to win a record seventh Ballon d'Or this year and after having won the Copa America 2021, we wouldn't be too surprised if he does.
But he is behind his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo in Ballon d'Or points despite having won the award more times than him.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 3601 points
Cristiano Ronaldo is way ahead of Lionel Messi in terms of Ballon d'Or points. The Portuguese international won his first Ballon d'Or during his time with Manchester United in 2008. He then joined Real Madrid in 2009 and went on to become one of the best players to have ever worn their storied whites.
Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or four more times during his time with Los Blancos. He won it in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. The 36-year-old also finished second in the Ballon d'Or race six times. He has also finished third once.
Despite being 36-years-old, Ronaldo is still going strong. He is also a part of the 2021 Ballon d'Or race after having won the Golden Boot in the 2020-21 Serie A season and at Euro 2020.
Lionel Messi might be able to catch up with Ronaldo or even overtake him in the Ballon d'Or points race in the future but for now the Juventus man is on top.
