Last week, we looked at the various players who have worn the Flamengo shirt and been nominated for the top award at the Ballon d’Or at some point in their careers.

But Flamengo is far from being the only giant in Brazilian football.

The country is home to the so-called ‘G-12’, a group comprising 12 clubs that many consider to be the biggest in Brazilian football.

So, we decided to broaden our analysis and find out: Which of the 12 major Brazilian clubs has had the highest number of Ballon d’Or nominees?

There is one important detail: South American players only became eligible for the Ballon d’Or in 1995. As a result, some of the great names in 20th-century football are missing from our ranking.

Even so, the figures reveal a list full of big names and a few surprises.

1st place: São Paulo – 14 nominees

At the top of the list is São Paulo, considered by many to be the most successful club in the history of Brazilian football.

Founded in 1930 in the city of the same name, the “Tricolor Paulista” is the country’s most successful club and has never been relegated from the top flight. Furthermore, it is the only Brazilian club to have won every available title, whilst all five of Brazil’s World Cup-winning campaigns featured at least one São Paulo player in the squad.

This tradition is also reflected in the Ballon d’Or shortlist: 14 nominees for the award have worn the São Paulo shirt, giving the club a considerable lead over the rest.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for São Paulo
Raí: 1987–93, 1998–00 / Cafu: 1989–94 / Juninho Paulista: 1993–95 / Rogério Ceni: 1993–15 / Denílson: 1994–98 / Edmílson: 1995–00 / Kaká: 2000–03, 2014 (on loan) / Luís Fabiano: 2001 (on loan), 2002–04, 2011–15 / Casemiro: 2010–13 / Adriano: 2008 (on loan) / Rivaldo: 2011 (on loan) / Lúcio: 2013 / Dani Alves: 2019–21 / James Rodríguez: 2023–24

2nd place: Corinthians – 11 nominees

Close behind is Corinthians, one of São Paulo’s great rivals and one of the most popular clubs in Brazilian football.

Founded in 1910, two decades before São Paulo, “Timão” has built a history marked by titles and a massive fanbase. The club holds the record for the most Paulista Championship titles, with 31, as well as having won two Club World Cups.

And this greatness is also reflected in the ‘Ballon d’Or’: 11 players who have been nominated for the award have played for Corinthians.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Corinthians
Rivaldo: 1993–94 (on loan) / Cris: 1995–99 / Deco: 1996–97 / Dida: 1999–00, 2001–02 (on loan) / Marcos Senna: 1999–01 / Carlos Tevez: 2005–06 / Javier Mascherano: 2005–06 / Ronaldo: 2009–11 / Roberto Carlos: 2010–11 / Adriano: 2011–12 / Marquinhos: 2012–13

3rd place: Flamengo / Vasco da Gama – 10 nominees each

Third place is a tie between two of Rio de Janeiro’s most famous and traditional clubs: Flamengo and Vasco da Gama.

Flamengo’s football department was founded in 1911, and the club is the most popular in the country, with over 20 per cent of the Brazilian population supporting the “Rubro-Negro”. A powerhouse both on and off the pitch, Flamengo continues to win titles regularly and was nominated for Club of the Season at the 2026 ‘Ballon d’Or’.

On the other side of the river lies Vasco da Gama. Its football department was established in 1915, and the club is recognised as the world’s first continental champion, having won the South American Champions’ Cup in 1948. The “Giant of the Hill” also remains one of the country’s most popular teams.

In the Ballon d’Or, the two Rio giants stand side by side: Flamengo and Vasco have had 10 nominees for the award who have played for their respective clubs.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Flamengo
Bebeto: 1983–89, 1996 / Júlio César: 1997–05, 2018 / Denílson: 2000 (on loan) / Adriano: 2000–01, 2009–10, 2012 / Juninho Paulista: 2002 (on loan), 2007 / Ronaldinho: 2011–12 / Diego Ribas: 2016–22 / Vinícius Júnior: 2017–18 / Arturo Vidal: 2022–23 / Jorginho: 2025–present

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Vasco da Gama
Donato: 1983–88 / Sonny Anderson: 1988–91 / Bebeto: 1989–92, 2001 / Mário Jardel: 1991–96 / Juninho Pernambucano: 1995–01, 2011–12, 2013 / Juninho Paulista: 2000–01 (on loan) / Philippe Coutinho: 2008–10 (on loan), 2024–25 (on loan), 2025–26 / Cris: 2013–14 / Luís Fabiano: 2017 / Dimitri Payet: 2023–25

4th place: Palmeiras – 9 nominees

Next up is another of Brazilian football’s powerhouses: Palmeiras.

Founded in 1914, “Verdão” is the most successful club in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, with 12 titles, and has established itself as one of the most successful Brazilian clubs of recent decades. Like São Paulo, Palmeiras has had at least one player in every Brazilian World Cup-winning squad.

Its influence also spans generations at the Ballon d’Or: nine players who have been nominated for the award have played for Palmeiras.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Palmeiras
José “Mazzola” Altafini: 1956–58 / Julinho Botelho: 1958–67 / Roberto Carlos: 1993–95 / Rivaldo: 1994–96 / Cafu: 1995–97 / Juninho Paulista: 2005–06 / Denílson: 2008 / Edmílson: 2009 / Lúcio: 2014–15

5th place: Cruzeiro / Grêmio – 7 nominees each

Having covered Brazil’s two largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, we now turn to two giants from key centres of Brazilian football: Cruzeiro and Grêmio.

First, Cruzeiro, from Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais. Founded in 1921, the ‘Cabuloso’ has built one of the most successful histories in Brazilian football and is the most successful team in the Copa do Brasil, with six titles.

Next, Grêmio, based in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. Founded in 1903, the club is another of the great names in Brazilian football, with a history marked by titles, great players and enormous popularity.

In the Ballon d’Or ranking, the two are tied: seven nominees for the award have played for Cruzeiro, whilst another seven have played for Grêmio.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Cruzeiro
Ronaldo: 1993–94 / Dida: 1994–99 / Bebeto: 1997 / Cris: 1999–04 / Maicon: 2000–04 / Rivaldo: 2004 / Giovane Élber: 2006

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Grêmio
: Emerson: 1994–97 / Mário Jardel: 1995–96 (on loan) / Ronaldinho: 1998–01 / Cris: 2013 / Dida: 2013 / Luis Suárez: 2023 / Diego Costa: 2024

6th place: Atlético Mineiro / Santos – 6 nominees each

Sixth place is also shared between two historic clubs: Atlético Mineiro and Santos.

Cruzeiro’s biggest rival in Belo Horizonte, Atlético Mineiro was founded in 1908 and has won the Campeonato Mineiro 50 times, a record. The “Galo” is one of the great historic powerhouses of Minas Gerais and has also made its mark amongst the nominees for the Ballon d’Or.

The final club from the state of São Paulo to feature on our list is Santos. Founded in 1912, the club has been forever linked with Pelé, who made ‘Peixe’ a global phenomenon, and has also produced other great icons of Brazilian football, such as Neymar.

Six nominees for the ‘Ballon d’Or’ have played for Atlético Mineiro, whilst another six have represented Santos.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Atlético Mineiro
Roberto Carlos: 1992–93 (on loan) / Édison Méndez: 2010 / Ronaldinho: 2012–14 / Robinho: 2016–17 / Diego Costa: 2021–22 / Diego Godín: 2022

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Santos
Angelo Sormani: 1959–61 / Diego Ribas: 2002–04 / Robinho: 2002–05, 2010 (on loan), 2014–15 (on loan), 2020 / Emerson: 2009 / Neymar: 2009–13, 2025–present / Philippe Coutinho: 2026–present

7th place: Fluminense / Internacional – 5 nominees each

Seventh place brings together two clubs with a rich history in Brazilian football: Fluminense and Internacional.

Founded in 1902 in Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense is one of the most historic clubs in the history of Brazilian football. The ‘Tricolor’ has forged its own identity over more than a century and remains among the great names in Brazilian football.

In Porto Alegre, the rivalry between Internacional and Grêmio is considered one of the greatest in world football. Founded in 1909, Internacional is also amongst the country’s most successful clubs and is one of the historic powerhouses of Rio Grande do Sul.

In the Ballon d’Or rankings, the two clubs are once again tied: five nominees for the award have played for Fluminense, whilst another five have played for Internacional.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Fluminense
Julinho Botelho: 1954 (on loan) / Marcelo: 2005–07, 2023–24 / Thiago Silva: 2006–08, 2024–25, 2026–present / Deco: 2010–13 / Ronaldinho: 2015

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Internacional
Aílton: 1994–95 / Lúcio: 1997–00 / Diego Forlán: 2012–14 / Alisson: 2013–16 / Dida: 2014–15

8th place: Botafogo – 4 nominees

Finally, we come to Botafogo, the last of Rio’s ‘Big Four’ clubs to appear on the list.

The “Glorioso” was nominated for Club of the Season at the 2025 Ballon d’Or after winning its third Copa Libertadores title and also holds the record for the most players called up to the Brazilian national team for World Cups.

With a history brimming with great names, Botafogo also features amongst the Brazilian clubs represented in the Ballon d’Or. four nominees for the award have worn its shirt.

Ballon d’Or nominees who played for Botafogo
Júlio César da Silva: 1998 (on loan) / Bebeto: 1998–99 / Clarence Seedorf: 2012–14 / Diego Costa: 2023

And there you have it: how many ‘Ballon d’Or’ nominees have played for each of the 12 major Brazilian clubs.

If the list were to continue up to the top 10 (rather than a top 8 due to the ties), other Brazilian clubs outside the G-12 would also feature in the running, as they have had nominees for the Ballon d’Or in their squads.

Which Brazilian clubs have had the highest number of players nominated for the Ballon d’Or?

(including clubs outside the G-12)

  1. São Paulo – 14 nominees

  2. Corinthians – 11 nominees

  3. Flamengo / Vasco da Gama – 10 nominees each

  4. Palmeiras – 9 nominees

  5. Cruzeiro / Grêmio – 7 nominees each

  6. Atlético Mineiro / Santos – 6 nominees each

  7. Fluminense / Internacional – 5 nominees each

  8. Botafogo – 4 nominees

  9. Guarani / Juventude – 3 nominees each

  10. Athletico Paranaense / Criciúma / Mogi Mirim / Ponte Preta / Portuguesa / Rio Branco-SP / Santa Cruz / São Caetano / Vitória – 2 nominees each