Regarded as the most prestigious individual award in football, the ballon d’Or is awarded every year to the best footballer in the world, since its inception in 1956.
While several players have won the much-coveted prize at least once in their lifetime, many others have laid their hands on the prize on more than one occasion, representing different countries.
In this article, Sportpremi ranks the five countries with the most winners in history;
Argentina (Eight wins)
Lionel Messi’s record of eight ballon d’Or win places Argentina as the country with the most awards in history. The Barcelona legend is the only Argentine to have claimed the prestigious prize, although Argentine-born legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Omar Sivori also won the awards, but for different countries.
France (Seven wins)
Unsurprisingly, an European nation comes in second place, highlighting the continent’s dominance on the award. Five players – Michael Platini (3), Raymond Kopa, Zinedine Zidane, Jean Pierre-Papin and Karim Benzema have all won the award for France. Platini, though, is the only French player to have won it on more than one occasion.
France could equal Argentina as the countries with the most win tonight, should Ousmane Dembele claim the win.
Germany (Seven Wins)
Four-time World champions Germany have also recorded seven ballon d’Or wins from five players. Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won the award twice each, while Gerd Muller, Lothar Matthaus and Matthias Sammer all won the award once.
Portugal (Seven wins)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s haul of five ballon d’Or awards, alongside the wins of Eusebio and Luis Figo, places Portugal on seven award wins.
Netherlands (Seven wins)
Continuing European dominance on the award, Netherlands have produced seven ballon d’Or wins from three players. Johan Cruyff won the award three times, becoming the first player to achieve the feat, as well as Marco Van Basten, who also won the award three times. Ruud Gullit completes the list with one win to his name.
