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The Ballon d'Or is, without question, the most prestigious individual prize in the world of football. The award has been won by some of the greatest names in the sport and has established the status of football's most legendary exponents.
The intricacies involved in the selection of a Ballon d'Or winner have undergone several changes over the years. The pool of votes available to players continues to expand with every passing year and this has had an impact on the margins of recent Ballon d'Or victories.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the Ballon d'Or in recent years
Before the turn of the century, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, and Johan Cruyff shared the record for the most Ballon d'Or triumphs with three victories apiece. The likes of Ronaldo and Raymond Kopa have also been successful at the event and have established unique footballing legacies with their exploits.
Over the past decade, however, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have made short work of the record and have won 11 of the last 12 Ballon d'Ors. The two modern-day behemoths continue to remain in contention for the award and share an exhilarating rivalry.
Without further ado, let's take a look at a list of players with the highest numbers of appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three.
#5 Johan Cruyff (4 appearances)
Johan Cruyff is arguably one of the most important figures ever to be associated with the game of football. The Dutch maestro essentially invented the intricacies of the modern game both as a player and a manager and played an essential role in the evolution of football.
His tactical contributions aside, Johan Cruyff is also one of the most successful players in Ballon d'Or history. While the likes of Ronaldo, Gerd Muller, Luis Suarez, and Raymond Kopa also have four appearances each in the Ballon d'Or top three, Johan Cruyff is one of only three players in football history to have won the award three times.
Cruyff's exploits with Barcelona and Ajax saw him win the Ballon d'Or in 1971, 1973, and 1974. The Dutch talisman also secured third place in 1975, finishing behind Franz Beckenbauer and Oleg Blokhin.
#4 Franz Beckenbauer (5 appearances)
It has become fairly obvious, over the years, that the Ballon d'Or has become an award ceremony dominated by midfielders and forwards. Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer is one of the only defenders in history to have established himself as a regular Ballon d'Or candidate.
'Der Kaiser' made five appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three, first winning the prize in 1972. Beckenbauer then went on to win his second Ballon d'Or four years later after leading Bayern Munich to their third consecutive European Cup triumph.
Franz Beckenbauer also invented the role of the modern sweeper with Bayern Munich in the 1970s and became one of his club's most important players alongside Sepp Maier and Gerd Muller. The Bayern captain revolutionised German football and remains one of the greatest defenders of all time.
Also Read: Top 5 Ballon d'Or winners with the least points difference
#3 Michel Platini (5 appearances)
The Ballon d'Or is generally reserved for the cream of the crop, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better European footballer in the 1980s than Michel Platini. The Frenchman might have endured a controversial administrative career but in the long run, his exceptional achievements as a player will hold him in good stead.
Platini is tied with Beckenbauer and also has five appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three but has won one more award than the German legend. The French wizard was the driving force behind Juventus' success and was the first player ever to win three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards.
Michel Platini finished as the top scorer in the Serie A for three seasons and won three Scudettos and a European Cup with the Bianconeri. The Juventus star also won the European Championship with France in 1984 and is one of the most successful players in Ballon d'Or history.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (12 appearances)
As with most other statistical battles in football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in an elite league of their own. Ronaldo has managed an astonishing 12 appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three and has worked incredibly hard to sustain one of the most exhilarating rivalries in sporting history.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award on a total of five occasions and is only behind Lionel Messi in terms of Ballon d'Or success. The Portuguese talisman inspired Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League triumphs between 2016 and 2018 and won two of his five Ballon d'Ors in the process.
Ronaldo's fortunes have taken a hit since his move to Juventus. With the modern-day legend as fit as ever, however, it could only be a matter of time before Cristiano Ronaldo covers himself in glory at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
#1 Lionel Messi (12 appearances)
Lionel Messi is the most successful player in Ballon d'Or history and has won the award a record six times during his career. The Argentine talisman is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three but has edged ahead of his rival in recent years.
The Barcelona captain has shattered goalscoring records throughout his career and has taken up several attacking roles for both club and country. Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a historic Copa America triumph and could potentially win his seventh Ballon d'Or this year.
With six Ballon d'Ors and an astonishing 12 appearances in the top three, Lionel Messi has been a regular contender for the prize for well over a decade. The talismanic false nine still has a few years left in him at the top and could potentially set an unattainable Ballon d'Or record by the end of his career.
Also Read: Top 5 Ballon d'Or winners with the least points difference
