In Portugal, “The Big Three” are the three historically most successful and dominant teams in domestic football.

None of the three has ever been relegated from the Primeira Liga since the league’s inaugural season in 1934–35. In fact, only two other clubs have won the title during this period: Belenenses in 1945–46 and Boavista in 2000–01.

The three are fierce rivals, always striving to outdo one another, and this also helps to explain the significance of their histories in the ‘Ballon d'Or’.

In total, 67 different players nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ have played for one, two or even all three clubs at some point in their careers.

With this in mind, we decided to find out: Which of the three major Portuguese clubs has had the highest number of nominees for the ‘Ballon d’Or’?

Let’s look at the figures.

1st place: Benfica – 37 nominees

In first place is Benfica.

Based in Lisbon, the ‘Eagles’ were founded in 1904 and are considered the most popular club in Portugal. It is also the most successful club in the Primeira Liga, with 38 titles, as well as holding the record for the Portuguese Cup (26) and the League Cup (8). Benfica is also the only Portuguese club to have won two consecutive European Cups, in 1961 and 1962.

In total, 37 players who have played for the club have been nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award.

The longest-serving of these, in terms of the period he played for the club, is José Águas. The striker spent most of his career at Benfica, between 1950 and 1963, and was nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ in 1961 and 1962.

The most recent is midfielder João Neves, currently at Paris Saint-Germain. Having come through Benfica’s youth ranks, he was part of the first team between 2022 and 2024 and, since leaving, has already received two nominations for the Ballon d'Or, in 2025 and 2026.

Eusébio is the only player to have played for Benfica and also won the ‘Ballon d'Or’. The legendary striker played for the Eagles between 1961 and 1975 and, considered by many to be the greatest icon in the club’s history, remains its all-time leading goalscorer with 473 goals. He won 11 Primeira Liga titles and one European Cup with Benfica. Throughout his career, Eusébio was nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ 11 times and lifted the trophy in 1965.

(The dates given below refer to the period during which each player played for the club, not the year in which they were nominated for the ‘’.)

Ballon d'Or nominees who played for Benfica
José Águas: 1950–63 / Costa Pereira: 1954–67 / Mário Coluna: 1954–70 / José Augusto: 1959–69 / José Torres: 1959–71 / Germano: 1960–66 / Eusébio: 1961–75 / Rui Jordão: 1971–76 / João Alves: 1972–73, 1978–79, 1980–83 / Manuel Bento: 1972–92 / Fernando Chalana: 1976–84, 1987–90 / Carlos Manuel: 1979–87 / Paulo Sousa: 1989–93 / Rui Costa: 1990–94, 2006–08 / Paulo Futre: 1993 / Michel Preud’homme: 1994–99 / Maniche: 1995–96, 1999–02 / Deco: 1997–98 / Karel Poborský: 1997–00 / Nuno Gomes: 1997–00, 2002–11 / Dean Saunders: 1998–99 / Pierre van Hooijdonk: 2000–01 / Zlatko Zahovič: 2001–05 / Tiago: 2002–04 / Ángel Di María: 2007–10, 2023–25 / José Antonio Reyes: 2008–09 (on loan) / Pablo Aimar: 2008–13 / Javier Saviola: 2009–12 / Jan Oblak: 2010–14 / João Cancelo: 2012–15 / Bernardo Silva: 2013–15 / Júlio César: 2014–17 / Rúben Dias: 2015–20 / João Félix: 2016–19 / Álex Grimaldo: 2016–23 / Darwin Núñez: 2020–22 / João Neves: 2022–24

2nd place: Porto – 23 nominees

In second place is the team many consider to be Benfica’s greatest rival: Porto.

Based in the northern Portuguese city that gives the club its name, the ‘Dragões’ were founded in 1893 and are the most successful club in Portuguese football, with 88 official titles.

It is worth noting that Porto is also the Portuguese club with the most international honours, having won seven trophies.

In total, 23 players who have played for the club have been nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award.

The longest-serving of these, in terms of the length of time he played for the club, is António Oliveira. The attacking midfielder came through the ranks at Porto and played for the first team between 1971 and 1979. He returned for a brief spell in 1980 and was nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ the following year.

The most recent nominees are two players who were part of the first team between 2019 and 2022. The first is winger Luis Díaz, currently at Bayern Munich, who has been nominated twice for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award, in 2022 and 2026. The second is midfielder Vitinha, currently at Paris Saint-Germain, who has been nominated three times, in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

No player who has played for Porto has ever won the ‘Ballon d'Or’.

Ballon d'Or nominees who played for Porto
António Oliveira: 1971–79, 1980 / Fernando Gomes: 1974–80, 1982–89 / Paulo Futre: 1984–87 / Józef Młynarczyk: 1986–89 / Vítor Baía: 1988–96, 1999 (on loan), 1999–07 / Emil Kostadinov: 1990–94 / Zlatko Zahovič: 1996–99 / Mário Jardel: 1996–00 / Ricardo Carvalho: 1997–04 / Deco: 1999–04 / Juan Esnáider: 2001 / Maniche: 2002–05 / Giourkas Seitaridis: 2004–05 / Luís Fabiano: 2004–05 / Thiago Silva: 2004–05, 2026 / Diego Ribas: 2004–06 / Pepe: 2004–07, 2019–24 / Ricardo Quaresma: 2004–08, 2014–15 / Radamel Falcao: 2009–11 / James Rodríguez: 2010–13 / Casemiro: 2014–15 (on loan) / Luis Díaz: 2019–22 / Vitinha: 2019–22

3rd place: Sporting CP – 20 nominees

Finally, we have Sporting CP.

Founded in 1906, the ‘Lions’ are Benfica’s local rivals in Lisbon. With a huge fanbase and a history packed with honours, Sporting also tops the all-time rankings for matches played in the UEFA Cup, now known as the Europa League.

In total, 20 players who have played for the club have been nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’.

The longest-serving of these, in terms of the length of time he played for the club, is Rui Jordão. The striker, who came through the ranks at Benfica, had two spells at Sporting which, combined, lasted around ten years: from 1977 to 1979 and from 1979 to 1987. He was nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award in 1984, during his second spell at the club.

The most recent is striker Viktor Gyökeres, who played for the club between 2023 and 2025, before moving to Arsenal in the English Premier League. In his final season at Sporting, Gyökeres scored 63 goals for club and country.

The most notable name to have also played for Sporting is, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. Having come through the club’s youth ranks, he played for the first team between 2002 and 2003 and has since become one of the most successful players of all time, amassing records and titles for his national team and for every club he has represented. Throughout his career, he has received 18 nominations for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ and has won the award five times: in 2008, whilst at Manchester United, and in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, whilst at Real Madrid. This makes him the second-most successful winner in the history of the ‘Ballon d'Or’, behind only the legendary Argentine Lionel Messi, who holds the record with eight trophies.

Another former winner of the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award who began his professional career at Sporting was Luís Figo. The winger, who was one of Cristiano Ronaldo’s role models during his childhood, is considered by many to be one of the best players of his generation and won the trophy in 2000. In total, he received 10 nominations for the award during his career.

Ballon d'Or nominees who played for Sporting CP
Rui Jordão: 1977–79, 1979–87 / António Oliveira: 1981–85 / Paulo Futre: 1983–84 / Frank Rijkaard: 1987–88 / Carlos Manuel: 1988–90 / Fernando Gomes: 1989–91 / Luís Figo: 1989–95 / Krasimir Balakov: 1991–95 / Paulo Sousa: 1993–94 / Ricardo Quaresma: 2000–03 / Mário Jardel: 2001–03 / Cristiano Ronaldo: 2002–03 / Nani: 2005–07, 2014–15 (on loan), 2018–19 / Rui Patrício: 2006–18 / Maniche: 2010–11 / Rafael Leão: 2017–18 / Bruno Fernandes: 2017–20 / Raphinha: 2018–19 / Nuno Mendes: 2020–22 / Viktor Gyökeres: 2023–25

The Big Three still in the running

Among Portugal’s Big Three, Benfica is the club with the most nominees for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award, followed by Porto and, lastly, Sporting CP.

Despite coming third in the rankings, Sporting is the only one of the three to have produced two winners of the ‘Ballon d'Or’: Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Benfica has had one, Eusébio, whilst Porto has had none.

It is also interesting to note that, whilst several nominees have played for two of the Big Three at some point in their careers, only two nominees have played for all three clubs. The first is Paulo Futre, who started out at Sporting (1983–84), spent a long spell at Porto (1984–87) and had a brief spell at Benfica (1993). The second is Maniche, who began his professional career after coming through the ranks at Benfica (1995–96), returned to the club after a spell away (1999–02), moved north to play for Porto (2002–05) and ended his career at Sporting (2010–11).

All three clubs also have former players amongst the nominees for this year’s ‘Ballon d'Or’ award.

Former players from the ‘Big Three’ nominated for this year’s ‘Ballon d'Or’ award

  • Bruno Fernandes (at Sporting CP between 2017 and 2020, now at Manchester United)

  • João Neves (at Benfica between 2022 and 2024, currently at Paris Saint-Germain)

  • Luis Díaz (at Porto between 2019 and 2022, currently at Bayern Munich)

  • Nuno Mendes (at Sporting CP between 2020 and 2022, currently at Paris Saint-Germain)

  • Vitinha (at Porto between 2019 and 2022, currently at Paris Saint-Germain)

Will any of these star players take home the award this year?

We’ll find out on 26 October in London.