The Ballon d’Or award ceremony is held annually to recognize the best-performing footballer over the course of the previous season. European football clubs have provided the platform for footballers around the world to showcase their talents and have held a stronghold on the award.
Lionel Messi’s 2023 triumph marked the first time a player based outside Europe has won the award.
With the stage set for the 2025 awards, Sportpremi reviews the clubs with the most award wins in history.
Real Madrid (12 wins)
It is not surprising that Real Madrid are ranked high on this list, given their pedigree and rich history. Los Blancos are tied for most wins with rivals Barcelona (12), with eight different players lifting the award.
Cristiano Ronaldo won four of his five awards at the Spanish capital, while Alfredo Di Stefano (2), was the first player to win the award for the club. Other winners are Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Fabio Cannavaro, Luis Figo, Raymond Kopa and Ronaldo Nazario, who won his second award at the club after winning it for the first time with Inter Milan.
Barcelona (12 wins)
Barcelona’s haul of 12 ballon d’Or wins ranks them joint-top of this list alongside rivals Real Madrid, highlighting Spanish clubs dominance on the award. Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Hristo Stoichkov, Luis Suarez and Johan Cruyff completes the list of winners from the Catalan club.
Johan Cruyff won two of his three awards at the club, while Lionel Messi claimed six of his eight wins in the colors of the club.
Barcelona could eclipse their rivals with a win in the 2025 awards, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha among the favorites.
Juventus (Eight wins)
Italian giants Juventus ranks third on this list with eight award wins from six players. Omar Sivori won the first award in the club’s history in 1961, with further wins from Paolo Rossi, Michel Platini (3), Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane and Pavel Nedved completing the list.
AC Milan (Eight wins)
AC Milan’s eight ballon d’Or wins comes from six different players winning the award at the club. Gianni Rivera was the first player from the club to win the award, claiming the prestigious prize in 1969. Other wins have come from Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten (3), George Weah, Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka.
Bayern Munich (Five wins)
Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich has been home to winners of the award on five occasions. Gerd Muller won a first in 1970, before wins from Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who both won it twice.
Manchester United (Four wins)
The Red Devils are the most successful English club in the history of the award, with four wins from four different players. Denis Law won the first for the club in 1964, with Bobby Charlton, George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo completing the list.
