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The Ballon d'Or is hailed as the most prestigious individual accolade in football history, with several iconic players getting their hands on the award over the years. For the first time in nearly a century, there will not be a Ballon d'Or winner at the end of the calendar year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nonetheless, the Ballon d'Or remains the most coveted accolade for a footballer, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo winning the award a staggering 11 times between them in the modern era. The Argentine made history in 2019 by becoming the first player to win it six times, as he edged out Ronaldo and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to get his hands on the magnificent trophy.
Messi, Ronaldo dominate Ballon d'Or rankings in the modern era
Until the late 90s, the Ballon d'Or was referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award and was exclusively handed out to players from the continent, as the name suggests. However, it was made global in the year 2007 and has continued to be that way since.
While Messi and Ronaldo have been at the top of their games for over a decade and accumulated thousands of votes, here is the list of 10 players who've received the most Ballon d'Or votes in football history.
Note: All stats were gathered from givemesport.com
#10 Johan Cryuff - 506 votes
Johan Cruyff's contributions to the beautiful game cannot be overstated, as the legendary Dutchman left his mark as a player and a manager. Having represented Ajax and Barcelona amongst others, the enigmatic midfielder left behind a legacy that is unlikely ever be matched at both clubs.
Known for his ball control and tactical intelligence, Cruyff was one of the most gifted footballers of his generation and an influential figure for club and country. Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta described his impact at the Camp Nou perfectly, as he inspired a generation of footballers as a player and a manager.
"As a player, he turned football into an art form. Johan came along and revolutionised everything. The modern-day Barça started with him, he is the expression of our identity, he brought us a style of football we love."
The Dutchman got his hands on the Ballon d'Or three times (1971, 1973, 1974) and also finished third in 1975, as he accumulated a total of 506 votes in his illustrious career.
#9 Kaka - 550 votes
Kaka, in his prime, was arguably one of the most loved footballers on the planet. The Brazilian midfielder combined elegance and efficiency to devastating effect and was an indispensable member for club and country. Part of a star-studded AC Milan squad that was a force to be reckoned with under Carlo Ancelotti, Kaka was also an important member of an all-star Brazil team that won the World Cup in 2002.
In his prime, there was not much Kaka couldn't do with the ball at his feet. The Brazilian star represented the likes of AC Milan and Real Madrid in his illustrious career, while he also left his mark with the national team. Kaka won the Ballon d'Or in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers of the modern era.
The stylish midfielder racked up 550 Ballon d'Or votes in his career and retired in 2017 after turning down offers from Sao Paolo and AC Milan.
Also Read: Top 10 players with most trophies in the 21st century
#8 Michel Platini - 551 votes
The current generation is only aware of Michel Platini as the controversial UEFA president banned from all football-related activity in 2015 due to ethical violations. However, back in the day, the Frenchman was one of the greatest footballers of his generation.
He won three Ballon d'Or awards between 1983 and 1985 and was by far the best footballer in the world at the time. An attacking midfielder by trade, Platini's eye for a pass was one of his standout attributes, while he was also deadly from set-pieces and hailed as one of the best penalty takers of all time.
Having won several accolades with Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus, Platini also spearheaded France to the European Championships in 1983 and finished his career with 551 Ballon d'Or votes to his name.
#7 Franz Beckenbauer - 576 votes
Hailed as "Der Kaiser" in Germany for his elegance and ability on the ball, Franz Beckenbauer is one of the greatest defenders in the game's history. He revolutionized the role of a ball-playing center back and set the standard for defenders during his time with Bayern Munich and West Germany.
Beckenbauer won two Ballon d'Or awards in 1972 and 1976 and the FIFA World Cup in 1974 with West Germany. The legendary defender also got his hands on football's biggest prize as a manager, as he spearheaded West Germany to World Cup glory in 1990 from the touchline.
Several modern-day players cite Beckenbauer as an inspiration, who retired in 1983 with 576 Ballon d'Or votes to his name.
#6 Ronaldo Nazario - 600 points
Despite winning two Ballon d'Or awards, Ronaldo Nazario's career could've reached greater heights. The Brazilian superstar is hailed as the most talented footballers of all-time, as he burst onto the scene as a teenager and took world football by storm.
A deadly finisher inside the penalty area, El Fenomeno's pace and explosion on the ball was quite the sight back in the day, while he also had the uncanny ability of beating the goalkeeper before putting the ball into an empty net.
Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 1997 and 2002 and had a successful career for club and country, as he also lifted the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002. The legendary striker represented PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan amongst others before hanging up his boots in 2011.
Throughout his career, he amassed 600 Ballon d'Or votes and is sure to be remembered as one of the game's greats.
#5 Virgil van Dijk - 679 votes
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is one of the greatest defenders of his generation, and recent news about his ACL injury has rocked Reds fans across the world. However, the Dutchman makes the list and is the only player in the top ten to have not won the Ballon d'Or.
Having lost out to Lionel Messi in the 2019 edition of the award, Van Dijk capped off a stunning campaign on a personal level by winning the PFA and UEFA Player of the Year awards, as he cemented his status as one of the best in the business.
With a staggering 679 votes last year, the 29-year-old finished higher on the 2019 Ballon d'Or standings than Cristiano Ronaldo, as he went close to becoming the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to win the award.
Van Dijk's ACL injury is grim news for Liverpool and the Netherlands, but the towering defender is one of the greatest athletes around and should be back to his best in the coming months.
Also Read: Ranking the top 10 U-23 players in world football currently
#4 Zinedine Zidane - 715 votes
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.
#3 Luka Modric - 837 votes
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.
#2 Lionel Messi - 2961 votes
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.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 3,601 votes
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.
Also Read: How Barcelona could lineup in the 2020-21 season
