Another Ballon d'Or ceremony is fast approaching, and we’re getting ever closer to finding out which footballers have been nominated for the 2026 edition.

The shortlist is the first step towards discovering who will take home world football’s top individual honour.

The world’s top clubs are hoping to have several representatives on the final shortlist.

In this regard, throughout the history of the Ballon d'Or, certain clubs have dominated the nominations.

With that in mind, below we take a look at the 10 clubs that have contributed the most players to the shortlists since the award’s inception.

The clubs with the most nominees in history:

  1. Real Madrid – 209 nominees

  2. Barcelona – 171 nominees

  3. Juventus – 145 nominees

  4. Bayern Munich – 129 nominees

  5. AC Milan – 114 nominees

  6. Manchester United – 113 nominees

  7. Inter Milan - 93 nominees

  8. Liverpool – 75 nominees

  9. Chelsea – 68 nominees

  10. Arsenal – 62 nominees

Real Madrid’s dominance

Real Madrid tops this all-time ranking with a total of 209 nominations. The Spanish club has been a regular destination for the world’s finest players and has maintained a constant presence at the award ceremonies since their inception.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the player who has garnered the most nominations and awards whilst wearing the white shirt. The Portuguese forward won four of his five Ballons d’Or (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) whilst playing for the Madrid club.

Real Madrid’s list of Ballon d'Or winners also includes other renowned figures. Alfredo Di Stéfano, Raymond Kopa, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro, Luka Modrić and Karim Benzema are the other players who won the award during their time at the club.

FC Barcelona’s consistency

In second place is FC Barcelona, with a total of 171 nominations throughout its history. The Catalan club has made a name for itself by nurturing the talent of its players through a distinctive philosophy.

Lionel Messi is the club’s greatest ever player in the history of the ‘Ballon d'Or’. The Argentine footballer set the club’s record for nominations and won six of the awards (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019) whilst playing for the Blaugrana.

Barcelona’s legacy in this award also includes other legendary names.

Players such as Luis Suárez Miramontes, Johan Cruyff, Hristo Stoichkov, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho have lifted the trophy, whilst home-grown stars such as Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta have racked up multiple nominations and podium finishes.

Juventus, the Italian leader

Juventus sit third in the overall standings and are the highest-ranked Italian side with 145 nominations. Their history with the award is linked to their periods of greatest dominance in Serie A and their ability to recruit top international stars.

Michel Platini stands out as the Turin club’s leading figure in the history of the award, having won the ‘Ballon d'Or’ three years running (1983, 1984 and 1985).

Other illustrious winners to have worn the Juventus shirt include Omar Sívori, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane and Pavel Nedved, in addition to the numerous nominations for legends such as Gianluigi Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero.

Which club will provide the most nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or?

We’ll find out very soon.