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Individual award supremacy

Ballon d'Or — Messi vs Ronaldo

13 Ballons d'Or between them in 16 years (2008–2023). No comparable streak exists in any team sport.

Short answer
Messi

8 wins to 5 — and the gap widened after 2022.

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By the numbers

Metric
Messi
Ronaldo
Total Ballons d'Or
8
5
First win
2009
2008
Most recent win
2023
2017
Consecutive wins
4 (2009–12)
2 (2013–14, 2016–17)
Top-3 finishes
17+
15+
FIFA The Best
3
2

Messi's 8 Ballons d'Or

2009 (his first, won with Barcelona's treble), 2010, 2011, 2012 (a record-breaking 73-goal season), 2015, 2019, 2021 (post Copa América), and 2023 (post World Cup).

The four-in-a-row from 2009 to 2012 is still unmatched.

Ronaldo's 5 Ballons d'Or

2008 (his United treble year), 2013, 2014, 2016 (Euro + UCL), and 2017 (back-to-back Champions Leagues).

His 2016 win came in a year Messi was arguably his statistical equal — voters rewarded the Euro.

Frequently asked

+Who has won more Ballon d'Or — Messi or Ronaldo?

Messi, with 8 wins to Ronaldo's 5.

+What years did Messi win the Ballon d'Or?

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023.

+What years did Ronaldo win the Ballon d'Or?

2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017.

+Will Ronaldo win another Ballon d'Or?

Unlikely. Since moving to Al-Nassr, his case has weakened because Ballon d'Or voters historically favour players in elite European leagues.

Keep reading

The GOAT question
Who Is the GOAT — Messi or Ronaldo?
The eternal question
Who Is Better — Messi or Ronaldo?
Career stats compared
Messi vs Ronaldo — Full Career Stats (2026)

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