8 players with the most Ballon d'Or nominations in history

#3 Paolo Maldini - 13

Paolo Maldini is one of the game's greatest defenders

Paolo Maldini is one of the best players never to have won the Ballon d'Or award. He received a whopping 13 nominations, but made the podium only twice (1994 and 2003). That's the most nominations by any player in history without winning the coveted award.

Nevertheless, Maldini is arguably one of the finest defenders to have graced the game. During a storied club career spanning two and a half decades, Maldini played for only one team - AC Milan - despite tempting offers from elsewhere.

The 53-year-old won eight league and five European Cup titles (including two in the Champions League era). Maldini was recently voted the best left-back of all time by a jury comprising 140 journalists.

Now a technical director at AC Milan, Maldini also had a stellar career with Italy, reaching the 1994 FIFA World Cup and 2000 European Championship finals. Maldini retired from the international game when the Azzurri won their fourth and most recent World Cup in 2006.

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#2 Lionel Messi - 15 (Six-time Ballon d'Or winner)

Lionel Messi is a six-time Ballon d'Or winner

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players to have graced the beautiful game.

During a hugely successful career for club and country, Messi has scored goals and won titles (both individual and team) galore. The eight-time Pichichi winner is the only player in history to win six Ballon d'Or awards.

Messi first won the coveted award in 2009, and completed an unprecedented four-peat three years later. Ten years after winning his first award, the Argentinian became the first six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

After leading from the front in Argentina's Copa America 2021 triumph, Messi is one of the frontrunners for this year's award.

He moved to PSG this summer, where he has endured a quiet campaign thus far. But Messi might have already done enough to land the award for an unprecedented seventh time.

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#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 17 (Five-time Ballon d'Or winner)

Cristiano Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner

Cristiano Ronaldo, like Messi, is arguably one of the best players in the game's history.

The 36-year-old has had blistering exploits for club and country over the years. Ronaldo is the only player to win five Champions League titles; he also has as many Ballon d'Or awards.

Now at Manchester United, the 2020-21 Copacannonieri winner has hit the ground running on his return to his old stomping ground. He has scored seven times across competitions. Earlier this summer, Ronaldo created history at the European Championship, becoming the competition's all-time record scorer. He scored five goals and bagged an assist to win the Golden Boot award.

A few weeks ago, Ronaldo received a record-extending 17th Ballon d'Or nomination. Ronaldo has made the podium 12 times, just like Messi.

However, his lack of major silverware this year means Ronaldo is unlikely to win his sixth Ballon d'Or award this year.

Nevertheless, with Ronaldo showing little signs of slowing down anytime soon, he will likely add to his Ballon d'Or tally before calling time on his career.