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FC Barcelona have amassed an incomparable number of trophies over the years, making them one of the greatest clubs in world football. Blaugrana has won every major trophy in club football and remains the only club to have won two continental trebles in history.
The Ballon d'Or is the most coveted individual award which has been given to the best footballer on the planet since it was founded in 1956. Barcelona are the most successful club in this arena, with their players claiming the Ballon d'Or more times than any other club in history.
Barcelona have had the pleasure of witnessing some legendary footballers over the years. Out of them, six Blaugrana players were named the winners of the Ballon d’Or a record haul of 12 times. The Catalan giants, as a result, are the club with the most winners and one ahead of their arch rivals Real Madrid.
On that note, let us take a look at
Barcelona's five best Ballon d'Or winners.
#5 Luis Suarez - 1960
Not to be confused with Uruguayan footballer, Luis Suarez Miramontes was the first Barcelona player to ever win the Ballon d’Or. The legendary Spaniard won the prestigious prize in 1960 with 54 points, defeating Real Madrid's Ferenc Puskas. Suarez remains the only Spanish player to have won the award in football history.
Suarez was fast, skillful and decisive in front of goal which made him a crucial player for the Catalan side. He featured for Barcelona between 1955 and 1961, scoring 68 goals during his tenure at the Nou Camp.
In addition to winning the award once, Suarez enjoyed second-placed finishes in 1951 and 1964 while being adjudged third best in 1965.
#4 Rivaldo - 1999
One of Brazil's all-time greats, Rivaldo was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1999 for his exploits at Barcelona. The Brazilian forward defeated the likes of David Beckham and Andriy Shevchenko to win the award.
Renowned for his technique and skills, Rivaldo's left-foot struck fear into the hearts of the opposition. He was also proficient in front of goal, gliding past defenders and scoring goals with utter ease.
Rivaldo helped the Spanish giants win La Liga titles in 1998 and 1999 as well as the 1998 Copa del Rey tournament. During his five-year tenure, he racked up 130 goals and 43 assists in 235 appearances for the club.
#3 Ronaldinho - 2005
Ronaldinho was a 'Mes Que En footballer' who had the power to make anyone fall in love with the beautiful game. Widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian of the modern era, Ronaldinho was a true artist with the ball at his feet. He cemented his legacy with Barcelona, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2005.
Ronaldinho was in his prime at the Catalan club, earning a podium finish in the 2004 Ballon d'Or. The following year, he defeated Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to win the award. It was another feather in the cap for the Brazilian maestro, who was unstoppable at that moment.
During his five-year tenure, Ronaldinho scored 94 goals and provided 71 assists. He also gifted fans with countless unforgettable moments, one of them earning a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans in the 2005 'El Clasico' encounter. The Brazilian was only the second Barcelona player, after great Diego Maradona, to receive a standing ovation from the Madridistas.
#2 Johan Cruyff - 1973 and 1974
Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest footballing minds ever, with his legacy and his philosophy still reverberating in the Camp Nou. The legendary Dutch footballer revolutionized the way Barcelona played football, first as a player and then as a manager.
Already a Ballon d'Or in 1971 with Ajax, Cruyff's extraordinary exploits helped him win two consecutive Ballon d'Or awards with Barcelona. The Dutchman won it in 1973 and then again in 1974, which demonstrates his status as one of the greatest of all time.
Cryuff wore Blaugrana kit from 1973 to 1978, making 174 appearances and scoring 59 goals. Barring Lionel Messi, Cryuff remains the only player for Barcelona to claim the Ballon d'Or prize more than once.
#1 Lionel Messi - 2009 to 2012, 2015, 2019 and counting
Many predicted that Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d'Or award when he finished 3rd in 2007 but very few expected him to win it six times. The Argentine genius had made the award his own, winning it more than any footballer in the history of the game.
Messi has dominated the Ballon d'Or podium in an unprecedented manner. In addition to winning the award, the 34-year old has also made it into the top 3 more times than any other player. Messi won the award four consecutive times from 2009 to 2012 before winning his fifth and sixth in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
Messi needs no introduction when it comes to his greatness with Barcelona. The Argentine forward scored 672 goals and provided 301 assists during his tenure at the club, before moving to PSG this summer.
