Ballon d'Or 2026: Who are the names with the most runner-up finishes for the award?

As is well known, the Ballon d'Or award is historically presented by the French magazine France Football and is based on voting, where a number of accredited journalists from all countries of the world vote for the names in the final list of nominees each year.

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The all-time top five Ballon d'Or winners are Lionel Messi with eight titles, Cristiano Ronaldo with five, and three players tied with three each: Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten. Messi holds the absolute record, while Ronaldo remains the second most decorated in history.

Who are the players who have received the most second-place finishes in the Ballon d'Or voting?

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the unwanted record for the most runner-up finishes in Ballon d'Or history, ending second six times in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Behind him stands Franz Beckenbauer with four runner-up spots, achieved in 1966, 1972, 1974, and 1975.

Three players are tied with three second-place finishes each: Johan Cruyff, who was runner-up in 1969, 1971, and 1973; the Brazilian Ronaldo, who finished second in 1996, 1997, and 1998; and Lionel Messi, who came closest but finished behind the winner in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Together, these five legends represent the most decorated runners-up in the award's prestigious history.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.