We’re getting ever closer to finding out who the nominees will be for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, which will be presented on 26 October in London.

This makes it a good opportunity to look back at the footballers who have received the most nominations for the award throughout its history.

These legends have received more than 10 nominations for the Ballon d'Or and top the list of players with the most nominations for the award.

Cristiano Ronaldo, with 18 nominations, is the player with the most nominations in the history of this most prestigious individual award.

He is closely followed by Argentina’s Lionel Messi (16 nominations) and Italy’s Paolo Maldini (13 nominations). Here is the full list:

Players with the most nominations for the Ballon d'Or

  • Cristiano Ronaldo (18 nominations): The Portuguese player holds the all-time record for the award with a total of 18 nominations. His goal-scoring prowess and unprecedented longevity have enabled him to dominate European football and win five Ballons d’Or.

  • Lionel Messi (16 nominations): With eight Ballons d’Or in his trophy cabinet, the Argentine star has racked up 16 nominations for the top honour. He is, without a doubt, the most successful winner in the award’s history.

  • Paolo Maldini (13 nominations): The legendary Italian defender demonstrated extraordinary consistency throughout his career at AC Milan. His 13 nominations reflect the calibre of a defensive leader who competed at the very highest level for over twenty years.

  • Johan Cruyff (12 nominations): A pioneer of modern football and winner of three Ballon d’Or awards, the Dutchman transformed the game with his talent and tactical vision. His international impact during the 1970s earned him a place on the shortlist for a dozen editions.

  • Franz Beckenbauer (12 nominations): An iconic figure for Bayern Munich and the German national team, ‘The Kaiser’ redefined the role of the sweeper and won two Ballons d’Or. His consistent presence amongst the nominees reaffirms his historic influence in defence.

  • Karim Benzema (12 nominations): The French striker’s perseverance was finally rewarded in 2022 when he won the award. Throughout his career, he has racked up 12 nominations thanks to his immense quality and goal-scoring ability.

  • Zlatan Ibrahimović (11 nominations): The Swedish striker remained among the world’s best forwards, competing in various top-flight leagues. His power, technical ability and goal-scoring prowess secured him 11 nominations for the Ballon d'Or.

  • Gianluigi Buffon (11 nominations): One of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and a symbol of consistency between the posts. His 11 nominations confirm an outstanding career spanning more than two decades.

  • Zinédine Zidane (11 nominations): Winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1998, the French midfielder was the embodiment of elegance and vision. His performances in major continental and global tournaments kept him among the nominees for 11 consecutive editions.

  • Michel Platini (11 nominations): The legendary French number 10 dominated European football in the mid-1980s, winning three consecutive Ballons d’Or. Throughout his career, he received 11 nominations.

  • Eusébio (11 nominations): A symbol of Benfica and Portuguese football, the ‘Black Panther’ won the Ballon d'Or in 1965. His physical power and finishing ability saw him feature regularly on the shortlists throughout the 1960s.

All of them have left an indelible mark on the history of football and the Ballon d'Or.

Will a new player join this select group?

We’ll find out soon, when the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or are announced.