How many times has Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or? Past trophy wins for Portugal star

Feargal Brennan

How many times has Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or? Past trophy wins for Portugal star image

The 2023 Ballon d'Or featured a crucial absence with Cristiano Ronaldo not included in the 30-player shortlist for the first time since 2003.

A year later, he was once more omitted from the nominees list for football's top individual prize.

Ronaldo's 2022 move to Al Nassr has pushed him out of the reckoning for the award but his exemption from the wider list also highlights his incredible consistency in the last two decades.

Across two spells at Manchester United, alongside incredible stints at Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo had remained as an ever-present star in the Ballon d'Or battle each year.

He boasts an impressive record in the award's history, alongside his old rival Lionel Messi.

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How many times has Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or?

Ronaldo is the second most successful player in Ballon d'Or history with five titles won from 2008 to 2017 as Messi holds the overall record with eight awards, most recently in 2023.

Four of Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or awards came during his time at Real Madrid but his first arrived in a sensational year at United in 2008.

Cristiano Ronald Ballon d'Or finishes
1st Place2nd Place 3rd Place
2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 20172007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 20182019

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Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or wins

After finishing second to Kaka in 2007, Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008, as he established himself as a world star at Old Trafford.

However, he was to wait five years for his next award win, as Messi dominated the Ballon d'Or from 2009 to 2012, before Ronaldo won four in five years in Madrid, stretching from 2013 to 2017.

Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or wins
YearClubTrophies wonAge
2008Manchester United2007/08 Premier League, 2007/08 Champions League23
2013Real Madrid28
2014Real Madrid2013/14 Copa del Rey, 2013/14 Champions League, 2014 UEFA Super Cup, 2014 FIFA Club World Cup29
2016Real Madrid2015/16 Champions League, 2016 FIFA Club World Cup31
2017Real Madrid2016/17 La Liga, 2017 Supercopa de Espana, 2016/17 Champions League, 2017 UEFA Super Cup, 2017 FIFA Club World Cup32

Who has won the most Ballon d'Or awards?

RankPlayerBallon d'Or
wins
Years won
1.Lionel Messi82009, 2010, 2011, 2012,
2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
2.Cristiano Ronaldo52008, 2013, 2014, 2016,
2017
3.Michel Platini31983, 1984, 1985
 Johan Cruyff31971, 1973, 1974
 Marco van Basten31988, 1989, 1992
6.Franz Beckenbauer21972, 1976
 Ronaldo21997, 2002
 Alfredo Di Stefano21957, 1959
 Kevin Keegan21978, 1979
 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge21980, 1981

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.