5 footballers with most Ballon d'Or nominations as Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hold big lead in list despite missing out in 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the list of players with the highest number of Ballon d'Or nominations in history with 18 to his name, despite not making it to the 30-man shortlist in 2024. The coveted award is set to be presented on October 28 in Paris.
Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times in his career, becoming the second-highest awardee of all time. He is surpassed by his rival Lionel Messi, who has received the prestigious award a record eight times in his career, despite having received two fewer nominations than the Portuguese talisman.
Cristiano Ronaldo (18), Lionel Messi (16), Paolo Maldini (13), Johan Cryuff (12), Karim Benzema (12), and Franz Beckenbauer (12) have received the most Ballon d'Or nominations in history.
Out of the top five players with the highest Ballon d'Or nominations, Paolo Maldini remains the only one to have never won the prestigious award. Karim Benzema won the award in 2022, while Johan Cryuff won it three times in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Franz Beckenbauer won the award in 1972 and 1976.
Cristiano Ronaldo's history at the Ballon d'Or awards explored
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the second-most successful player in the history of Ballon d'Or with five wins to his name. The Portuguese legend also holds the most number of nominations for the award.
Ronaldo won the prestigious award in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. His first win in 2008 came during his time at Manchester United, while he won the other four as a Real Madrid player. He was first nominated for the award in 2004 and made it to the shortlist for the next 15 years.
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo was one of Manchester United's breakthrough stars under the guidance of legendary coach Sir Alex Fergusson. The Portuguese star won his first Champions League title that season, alongside the Premier League.
Ronaldo won the prestigious award the second time in 2013 after Lionel Messi won it four consecutive times between 2009 to 2012. He scored 66 goals in 56 games for Real Madrid in that season, but was unable to win any silverware with the club.
Ronaldo's 2013 win is considered his most controversial and debatable one to date, as many believe Franck Ribery was the rightful winner in 2013 for his historic treble winning season with Bayern Munich.
Cristiano Ronaldo's next win came in 2014, after he won the UEFA Champions League, the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid.
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or with the biggest voting margin in the history of the award. In that season, the Portuguese talisman led Portugal to the 2016 Euros title and also won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid.
The Portuguese legend's most recent win came in 2017, also marking his second-last season at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ronaldo won almost everything at club level with Los Blancos that season, including his third consecutive UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup.