 scores 

10 players with the most

individual awards in
football history
The 10 footballers who have claimed the most
individual awards during their illustrious careers
BY CALUM RITCHIE PUBLISHED JAN 16, 2024

 HIGHLIGHTS

Individual accolades are important in

determining a player's success and skill,
separate from team accomplishments.

Lionel Messi has the most individual

awards, including numerous Ballon d'Or
titles and top scorer awards.

Other notable players with a high number

of individual accolades include Cristiano
Ronaldo, Marco van Basten, and Ronaldo
Nazario.

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Football players are often judged by the

trophies their clubs and countries lift
throughout their careers, but there's
something to be said for individual
accolades being a more accurate
representation of a player's success. Football
may be a team sport, but some of the
greatest players of all time have been let
down by their teammates at various points in
the past.

That is why it's important to take into

account the trophies a player has amassed
based on their own performances. A player
can have a wonderful season but still have
no team prizes to show for it. Whether it's a
Golden Boot or a Ballon d'Or, all awards stack
up to make some unfathomable CVs.

With that being said, GIVEMESPORT have

decided to take a look at the 10 players with
the most individual accolades to their name.
View the results below.

Ranking factors

While ther may be some discrepancies

surrounding what counts as an individual
award, we felt it necessary to clarify the
personal accolades that are eligible when
ranking the players below. The prizes include
the following:

Ballon d'Or
Super Ballon d'Or
Top goalscorer for any major league
Top goalscorer in continental competition
International tournament top scorer
International tournament goal contributions
Any Player of the Year award (Domestic,
continental or international)

Players with the Most Individual Awards

Player Clubs Nation Awards

Barcelona,
Lionel
PSG, Inter Argentina 52
Messi
Miami

Sporting
Lisbon, Man
Cristiano United, Real
Portugal 32
Ronaldo Madrid,
Juventus,
Al-Nassr

Marco
Ajax, AC
van Netherlands 20
Milan
Basten

Cruzeiro,
PSV,
Barcelona,
Ronaldo Inter Milan, Brazil 18
Real Madrid,
AC Milan,
Corinthians

1861
Nordlingen,
Gerd Bayern
Germany 18
Muller Munich, Fort
Lauderdale
Strikers

Sporting
Marques,
Benfica,
Boston
Minutemen,
Monterrey,
Toronto
Eusebio Blizzard, Portugal 17
Beira-Mar,
Las Vegas
Quicksilvers,
Uniao de
Tomar, New
Jersey
Americans

Cannes,
Zinedine Bordeaux,
France 13
Zidane Juventus,
Real Madrid

Nancy,
Michel Saint-
France 12
Platini Ettienne,
Juventus

River Plate,
Alfredo Huracan,
Di Millonarios, Argentina/Spain 12
Stefano Real Madrid,
Espanyol

Ajax,
Barcelona,
Johan LA Aztecs,
Netherlands 10
Cruyff Washington
Diplomats,
Levante

Information via Top Soccer Blog - correct as of

16/01/2024

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1 Lionel Messi
52 Awards

Lionel Messi added an eighth Ballon d'Or to

his personal trophy collection in late 2023
after helping his country secure a World Cup
12 months prior. It is hard to argue that the
Argentine is the greatest football player of all
time. A long and storied career has seen
Messi amass an unbelievable haul of both
individual and collective honours. It has been
a joy for fans to witness the little magician
take the football world by storm for the past
two decades.

Not only has the Barcelona icon won more

individual awards than his peers, but Messi is
also the most decorated football player in the
world in terms of team success. The 36-year-
old's collection of prizes includes many top
scorer awards in various different
competitions as well as being named
Argentina Player of the Year a staggering 14
times.

Lionel Messi's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,

Ballon d'Or 8
2015, 2019, 2021, 2023

FIFA World
Player of the 1 2009
Year

UEFA Men's
Player of the 2 2011, 2015
Year

The Best FIFA

3 2019, 2022, 2023
Men's Player

FIFA World
Cup Golden 2 2014, 2022
Ball

FIFA Club
World Cup 2 2009, 2011
Golden Ball

2009/2010, 2011/12,
European
6 2012/13, 2016/17,
Golden Shoe
2017/18, 2018/19

2008/09, 2009/10,
La Liga Best
6 2010/11, 2011/12,
Player
2012/13, 2014/15

Pichichi 2009/10, 2011/12,

Trophy (La 2012/13, 2016/17,
8
Liga Top 2017/18, 2018/19,
Goalscorer) 2019/20, 2020/21

2005, 2007, 2008, 2009,

Argentina
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
Player of the 14
2015, 2016, 2017, 2019,
Year
2020, 2021

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2 Cristiano Ronaldo
32 Awards

Where Messi appears on a list, it can almost

be guaranteed that Cristiano Ronaldo will be
in close vicinity to his long-term rival. The
former Real Madrid and Manchester United
superstar has broken almost all goalscoring
records possible as he has become the most
clinical player that sport has seen. Ronaldo is
the top scorer in the history of football,
ahead of the likes of Pele and Messi.

The Portuguese forward will be gutted to

have played in the same era as Messi, as his
incredible haul of five Ballon d'Or awards has
been overshadowed by the Argentine. He is
only one of two players in the history of the
game to have lifted the prestigious award on
more than three occasions. He has been
crowned as the best player in the Premier
League, La Liga, and Serie A across his
career, proving the success Ronaldo has
achieved everywhere he has gone.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Individual Honours

Years
Award Number
Won

2008,
2013,
Ballon d'Or 5 2014,
2016,
2017

FIFA World Player of the

1 2008
Year

2014,
UEFA Men's Player of the
3 2016,
Year
2017

2016,
The Best FIFA Men's Player 2
2017

The Best FIFA Special

Award for Outstanding 1 2021
Career Achievement

2007/08,
2010/11,
European Golden Shoe 4
2013/14,
2014/15

2016,
Portuguese Player of the 2017,
4
Year 2018,
2019

2010/11,
Pichichi Trophy (La Liga Top
3 2013/14,
Goalscorer)
2014/15

La Liga Best Player 1 2013/14

Premier League Player of 2006/07,

2
the Season 2007/08

PFA Players' Player of the 2006/07,

2
Year 2007/08

Premier League Golden

1 2007/08
Boot

Serie A Footballer of the 2019,

2
Year 2020

Serie A Top Goalscorer 1 2020/21

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3 Marco van Basten

20 Awards

Marco van Basten was unfortunately forced

to retire early due to injury. Despite hanging
up his boots at the age of 31, the
Netherlands sensation's individual trophy
cabinet is only bettered by Messi and
Ronaldo as he has racked up 20 awards. The
majority of which are for finishing league
seasons and international campaigns as the
top goalscorer for Ajax, AC Milan and the
Dutch national team.

One of the greatest strikers of a ball in any

generation - not only his own - Van Basten
garnered a reputation for being one of the
best players in the world at his best. This is
shown by his three Ballon d'Or awards, which
came in the space of just five years. With
heavy competition from some supremely
talented Dutch players - one of which we will
get to later - he was crowned as the best
player from his country in 1985.

Marco van Basten's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

Ballon d'Or 3 1988, 1989, 1992

FIFA World Player

1 1992
of the Year

UEFA Best Player

3 1989, 1990, 1992
of the Year

European Cup
1 1988/89
Top Scorer

Serie A Golden
2 1989/90, 1991/92
Boot

Eredivisie Top 1983/84, 1984/85,

4
Scorer 1985/86, 1986/87

European Silver
1 1983/84
Boot

Dutch Footballer
1 1985
of the Year

European Golden
1 1985/86
Boot

World Golden
1 1985/85
Boot

UEFA Euro Top

1 1988
Scorer

UEFA Euro Best

1 1988
Player

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4 Ronaldo
18 Awards

Ronaldo Nazario represented some of the

biggest clubs in world football - AC Milan,
Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid -
meaning it comes as little surprise that the
striker picked up plenty of individual honours
along the way as the main man. The Brazilian
was an elite marksman with sensational
technique for a man of his stature. A perfect
blend of pace, power and skill, he was a
handful for any defender he faced.

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It wasn't only at club level that he thrived

either, as the man affectionately known as
'R9' had the hopes of his entire nation upon
his shoulders for the majority of his career.
He won two Ballons d'Or with the second
coming in 2002 after his masterclass in one
of the greatest World Cup finals of all time, in
which Brazil defeated Germany 2-0. Ronaldo
picked up a strong mix of both international
and club awards.

Ronaldo's Individual Honours

Years
Award Number
Won

1997,
Ballon d'Or 2
2002

1996,
FIFA World Player of the
3 1997,
Year
2002

UEFA Club Footballer of the

1 1997/98
Year

European Golden Shoe 1 1996/97

FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 1 1998

FIFA World Cup Silver Ball 1 2002

FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe 1 2002

FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot 1 2006

Pichichi Trophy (La Liga Top 1996/97,

2
Goalscorer) 2003/04

Supercopa Libertadores Top

1 1993/94
Scorer

Campeonato Mineiro Top

1 1993/94
Scorer

Eredivisie Top Goalscorer 1 1994/94

 Copa America Most
1 1997
Valuable Player

Serie A Footballer of the

1 1998
Year

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5 Gerd Muller
18 Awards

Robert Lewandowski is known as the most

clinical goalscorer in Bundesliga history in
the modern-day era, but many decades
before the Polish striker was smashing in
goals for Bayern Munich, Gerd Muller was
leading the line for the club and scoring at an
even more prolific rate. He is the top
goalscorer in the competition's history with
well over 300 goals to his name. Muller
netted the most goals in seven separate
campaigns for the German giants, proving
his prowess in front of goal.

It wasn't just in domestic football that the

Germany international showed his clinical
edge, with Muller being handed the European
Cup top scorer on four occasions. The striker
is undoubtedly one of the greatest ever
German players, right at the top of the list
with the possible exception of the late Franz
Beckenbauer.

Gerd Muller's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

Ballon d'Or 1 1970

German Footballer of
2 1967, 1969
the Year

1967, 1969,
Bundesliga Top 1970, 1972,
7
Scorer 1973, 1974,
1978

European Golden 1969/70,

2
Shoe 1971/72

FIFA World Cup

1 1970
Golden Boot

UEFA European
Championship Top 1 1972
Scorer

European Cup Top 1973, 1974,

4
Scorer 1975, 1977

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6 Eusebio
17 Awards

Ronaldo may steal all the headlines in the

modern game when it comes to the best
players to come from Portugal, but Eusebio's
legacy cannot be ignored. The Benfica icon
was known to be one of the best finishers of
all time as he thundered in goals for fun
during his time in his homeland. This is
displayed by his seven awards for being the
top scorer in the Portuguese top flight, with
five coming in successive years from 1964 to
1968.

His uncanny ability to find the back of the net

has helped the late hero's name within the
game continue to be held in high regard.
Eusebio passed away in 2014, but the former
striker remains a firm fixture in lists such as
this one. It goes to show the impact he had
during his era.

Eusebio's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

Ballon d'Or 1 1965

European Golden Shoe 2 1968, 1973

1964, 1965,
Bola de Prata
1966, 1967,
(Portuguese League 7
1968, 1970,
Top Scorer)
1973

European Cup Top 1965, 1966,

3
Scorer 1968

FIFA World Cup

1 1966
Golden Boot

FIFA World Cup

1 1966
Bronze Ball

Portuguese Footballer
2 1970, 1973
of the Year

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7 Zinedine Zidane
13 Awards

Zinedine Zidane led France to World Cup

success in 1998 as the host nation defeated
Ronaldo's Brazil in the tournament's final.
The gifted midfielder's performances in that
tournament and at club level were rewarded
with a Ballon d'Or and a FIFA World Player of
the Year award in the same year. He was
also judged to be the best French player of
the year, despite stiff competition from
Thierry Henry, among others.

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This wasn't his only impressive showing at

an international tournament either, as Zidane
likely would have been rewarded for his
efforts in the 2006 World Cup had he not
controversially headbutted Marco Materazzi
in the final and cost his side the victory. He
was the Player of the Tournament at the
Euros in 2000 and added a collection of
accolades at club level to his haul.

Zinedine Zidane's Individual Honours

Years
Award Number
Won

Ballon d'Or 1 1998

1998,
FIFA World Player of the Year 3 2000,
2003

UEFA Club Footballer of the

1 2002
Year

French Division 1 Player of

1 1995/96
the Year

1998,
French Player of the Year 2
2002

UEFA Euro Player of the

1 2000
Tournament

Serie A Footballer of the Year 1 2000/01

Serie A Top Assist Provider 1 2000/01

FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 1 2006

UEFA Champions League

Best Player of the Past 20 1 2011
Years

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8 Michel Platini
12 Awards

He is only the second midfielder to make the

list after his compatriot, Zidane, but Michel
Platini was a unique figure in that his
goalscoring exploits could be placed on a par
with some of the best forward players we
have seen. The year 1984 belonged to the
Juventus star as he dominated the European
Championships, being named the top scorer
of the tournament as he led his nation to
glory.

This was amid the best spell of Platini's

playing career, and the Frenchman lifted
three successive Ballons d'Or in 1083, 1984,
and 1985. Being able to command the engine
room as well as getting forward to have a
positive impact on the game is a dream for
any football manager, and Platini was a
master in both fields.

Michel Platini's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

1983, 1984,
Ballon d'Or 3
1985

World Soccer Player of

2 1984, 1985
the Year

UEFA Euro Player of the

1 1984
Tournament

UEFA Euro Top

1 1984
Goalscorer

European Cup Top

1 1984/85
Scorer

1982/83,
Serie A Top Scorer 3 1983/84,
1984/84

French Player of the

1 1999
Century

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9 Alfredo Di Stefano
12 Awards

Having won two of the first Ballon d'Or

trophies handed out in the late 1950s, Real
Madrid's top goalscorer at the time would go
on to make history by becoming the first
recipient of the Super Ballon d'Or in 1989.
The award was handed out to the man who
was decided to be the best player of the
previous 30 years, and Di Stefano remains
the only player to ever be handed the honour.
Beating the aforementioned Platini to the
award, the ex-Madridsta did incredibly well to
scoop the prize.

Di Stefano switched international allegiances

as he swapped Argentina for Spain and went
on to become one of the best - if not the best
- players in Spanish history. Lifting the
Spanish Player of the Year accolade four
times, he cemented himself as an iconic
figure in his adopted homeland.

Alfredo Di Stefano's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

Ballon d'Or 2 1957, 1959

Super Ballon d'Or 1 1989

European Cup Top Scorer 2 1958, 1962

Spanish Player of the 1957, 1959,

4
Year 1960, 1964

Argentine Primera
1 1947
Division Top Scorer

Colombian League Top

2 1951, 1952
Scorer

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10 Johan Cruyff
10 Awards

He may be at the bottom of this list, but

Johan Cruyff remains one of the most
elegant players to have ever graced the
hallowed turf. His skillful dribbling and
unmatched mind for the game were a joy to
behold for those that were fortunate enough
to be watching at the time. The legacy of Van
Basten has already been discussed, but
Cruyff beat his fellow Netherlands
international to the Dutch Footballer of the
Year in 1984, marking a third triumph for the
Ajax legend.

Three Ballon d'Or awards in the space of four

years in the early 1970s prove he was one of
the top players in the world despite his low
tally on this list in comparison to those ahead
of him. Cruyff's legacy will forever live on as
he became adored at both Ajax and
Barcelona for his contributions to two of the
biggest clubs in Europe as a player and a
manager.

Johan Cruyff's Individual Honours

Award Number Years Won

1971, 1973,
Ballon d'Or 3
1974

1966/67,
Eredivisie Top Scorer 2
1971/72

European Cup Top

1 1971/72
Scorer

FIFA World Cup Golden

1 1974
Ball

Dutch Footballer of the 1968, 1972,

3
Year 1984

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RELATED TOPICS
FOOTBALL LIONEL MESSI CRISTIANO RONALDO

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EUSEBIO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Calum Ritchie
(554 Articles Published)

Calum is a writer for GiveMeSport with a particular focus on

Premier League football. Having taken part in the GiveMeSport…
Academy in early 2023, Calum joined the team as a freelance
writer in June of the same year. This came shortly after

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