Top 10 players with the most Ballon d'Or votes in football history

#4 Zinedine Zidane - 715 votes

Zinedine Zidane is an iconic name in the football world

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is one of the most influential figures in the history of the game. The Frenchman has left last impressions as a player and a manager and has already won the La Liga in his second stint as Los Blancos manager, after previously completing an unprecedented UEFA Champions League three-peat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zidane helped France win the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and won the Ballon d'Or that year, while he also finished third in 1997. The legendary Frenchman was one of the most graceful players to watch and had all the attributes of a complete midfielder.

With 715 votes to his name in his illustrious career, Zidane unsurprisingly makes the top five.

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#3 Luka Modric - 837 votes

Real Madrid CF v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid - La Liga

After Kaka in 2007, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d'Or for the decade that followed. However, in 2018, Luka Modric finally broke the duopoly held by the pair and etched his name in football history by getting his hands on the prized accolade.

Modric is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation and has been a vital cog of Real Madrid's European domination over the years. The diminutive Croatian's energy coupled with his technical ability made him one of the most complete players of his time, as he made his mark for club and country.

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Modric spearheaded Croatia to the final, as they lost out to France in a thrilling encounter. He was named as the Player of the Tournament for his performances and also won the Ballon d'Or later that year, as he was recognized for a sensational year with club and country.

Modric has racked up 837 votes to date and continues to be a key player for Real Madrid and Croatia.

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#2 Lionel Messi - 2961 votes

Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona in 2021

Surprisingly, Lionel Messi finds himself second on the list despite being the most decorated player in the history of the Ballon d'Or. The Barcelona talisman became the first player ever to win the award six times in 2019, as he beat the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk to the same.

Messi is hailed as the greatest footballers of all time and has broken several long-standing records for club and country since making his debut in 2004. The diminutive Argentine shocked the world by expressing his desire to leave Barcelona this summer but decided to stay and see the last year of his contract.

In his illustrious career, the 33-year-old has racked up 2961 votes so far and is sure to add to his tally in the coming years. Only time will tell if Messi manages to win a seventh Ballon d'Or, but the Barcelona captain has shown no signs of slowing down and is still amongst the best in the business.

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#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 3,601 votes

Cristiano Ronaldo has secured the most Ballon d'Or votes in football history

Cristiano Ronaldo, much like Lionel Messi, is one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Portuguese star has scored goals at an almost unbelievable rate over the years and is still going strong at the age of 36. With five Ballon d'Or awards to his name, Ronaldo has worked his magic in three different leagues in Europe and has also been Portugal's main man for over a decade.

Having represented the likes of Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, the mercurial attacker has left a lasting impression in each of those great clubs and created history with the national team by winning the European Championships in 2016.

Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer in Champions League history and has won the competition five times with two different clubs. With 3601 votes and five Ballon d'Or awards to his name, he could well add to his tally in the coming years.

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