Although football is a team sport where collective success is superior to that of the individual, players are still judged based on the number of (prestigious) individual awards they’ve won.
Football players with the most individual trophies are highly ambitious to succeed both with the team and on a personal level.
There are various individual awards that footballers win, but the ones fans mostly reckon with are the prestigious accolades like the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year, European Golden shoe, UEFA Player of the Year, Golden Boots, and the awards obtained at the end of prestigious tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and continental tournaments.
In this article, we presents you with the top 10 footballers that have won the most individual awards. The criteria used in this post are based on the most prestigious awards.
Table of Contents
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest player of all time. The Argentine maestro has won it all in terms of trophies (except the FIFA World Cup) and individual awards.
He has the most Ballon d’Ors in history, with 7.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (7): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021.
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
- UEFA Men’s Player of the Year (2): 2011, 2015
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019
- European Golden Shoe (6): 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19.
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball (2): 2009, 2011
- La Liga Best Player (6): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15.
- Pichichi Trophy [La Liga Topscorer] (8): 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21.
- Argentine Footballer of the Year (14): 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Like Messi, one can also argue that Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player of all time. The Portuguese goal machine has also won it all, achieving success individually, at both club and international levels (except the FIFA World Cup). He has won a fair number individual awards.
Ronaldo has the 2nd most Ballon d’Or wins, with 5.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (5): 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017.
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player (2): 2016, 2017
- UEFA Men’s Player of the Year (3): 2014, 2016, 2017.
- The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement: 2021
- European Golden Shoe (4): 2007/08, 2010/11, 2013/14, 2014/15.
- Portuguese Player of the Year (4): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
- PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2): 2006/07, 2007/08
- Premier League Player of the Season (2): 2006/07, 2007/08.
- Premier League Golden Boot: 2007/08
- La Liga Best Player: 2013/14
- Pichichi Trophy [La Liga Topscorer] (3): 2010/11, 2013/14, 2014/15
- Serie A Footballer of the Year (2): 2019, 2020.
- Capocannoniere [Serie A Topscorer]: 2020/21.
3. Ronaldo de Lima
Ronaldo Nazário de Lima is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was a multi-functional striker who brought a new dimension to the position in his prime. His playing style influenced the generation of strikers that have followed. He is also one of the highest goalscorers in World Cup history.
Ronaldo’s individual accolades include being named FIFA World Player of the Year 3 times and winning 2 Ballon d’Or awards. However, Ronaldo is one of the few Ballon d’Or winners who never won the Champions League.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (2): 1997, 2002
- FIFA World Player of the Year (3): 1996, 1997, 2002.
- UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 1997/98
- European Golden Shoe: 1996/97.
- Pichichi Trophy [La Liga Topscorer] (2): 1996/97, 2003/04.
- Supercopa Libertadores top scorer: 1993/94
- Campeonato Mineiro top scorer: 1993/94
- Eredivisie top scorer: 1994/95
- Copa América Most Valuable Player: 1997
- Serie A Footballer of the Year: 1998
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1998
- FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2002
- FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 2002
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 2006.
4. Marco van Basten
Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in football history, Marco van Basten scored 300 goals in his career.
He was famous for his close ball control, attacking intelligence, impeccable headers, and spectacular volleys. At club level, he won major trophies with Ajax and AC Milan. At international level, Van Basten won UEFA Euro 1988 with the Netherlands.
Van Basten was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992 and won the Ballon d’Or 3 times in 1988, 1989, and 1992.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (3): 1988, 1989, 1992
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
- UEFA Best Player of the Year (3): 1989, 1990, 1992
- European Cup Top Scorer: 1988/89
- Serie A Golden Boot (2): 1989/90, 1991/92
- Eredivisie Top Scorer (4): 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87.
- European Silver Boot: 1983/84
- Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1985
- European Golden Boot: 1985/86.
- World Golden Boot: 1985/86
- UEFA Euro 1988: Top Scorer and Best Player.
5. Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff is not just one of the best managers in football history. He is also one of the greatest players ever. He won the Ballon d’Or 3 times in 1971, 1973 and 1974. The Dutchman is one of the best players who became successful coaches, and revolutionalized the beautiful game.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (3): 1971, 1973, 1974
- Eredivisie top scorer (2): 1966/67, 1971/72.
- European Cup top scorer: 1971/72
- Dutch Footballer of the Year (3): 1968,1972,1984
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1974
6. Michel Platini
Former UEFA President, Michel Platini, is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He won the Ballon d’Or 3 times in a row in 1983, 1984, and 1985 and came 7th in the FIFA Player of the Century vote.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (3): 1983, 1984, 1985
- World Soccer Player of the Year (2): 1984, 1985.
- UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 1984
- UEFA European Championship Top Scorer: 1984
- European Cup Top Scorer: 1984/85
- Capocannoniere [Serie A Top Scorer] (3): 1982/83, 1983/84, 1984/85.
- French Player of the Century: 1999.
7. Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Di Stéfano is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He is best known for his achievements with Real Madrid, where he was instrumental in the club’s domination of the European Cup (now UEFA Champions League) and La Liga during the 1950s.
He won the Ballon d’Or 3 times in 1957,1959 and 1989 (Super Ballon d’or)
Awards
- Ballon d’Or (3): 1957, 1959 and (Super Ballon d’or in 1989)
- European Cup top scorer (2): 1958, 1962
- Spanish Player of the Year (4): 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964
- Argentine Primera División top scorer: 1947
- Campeonato Profesional [Columbia league] top scorer (2): 1951, 1952.
8. Zinedine Zidane
Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Zidane was a playmaker renowned for his elegance, vision, passing, ball control, and technique.
He won many individual awards as a player, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003, and winning the 1998 Ballon d’Or.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or: 1998
- FIFA World Player of the Year (3): 1998, 2000, 2003
- UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2002
- French Division 1 Player of the Year: 1995/96.
- French Player of the Year (2): 1998, 2002.
- UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 2000.
- Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2000/01
- Serie A top assist provider: 2000/01
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2006
- UEFA Champions League Best Player of the Past 20 Years: 2011.
9. Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira was a Portuguese striker who is considered one of the greatest players of all time and Benfica’s greatest ever Player.
He was known for his speed, technique, athleticism, and his ferocious right-footed shot, making him a prolific goalscorer.
During his professional career, he scored 733 goals in 745 matches, and he is Benfica’s all-time top scorer with 473 goals in 440 competitive matches.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 1965 and was runner-up in 1962 and 1966.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or: 1965
- European Golden Shoe (2): 1968 (first winner), 1973.
- Bola de Prata [Portuguese league topscorer] (7): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973
- European Cup top scorer (3): 1965, 1966, 1968
- FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1966
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1966
- Portuguese Footballer of the Year (2): 1970, 1973.
10. Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller was a German striker famous for his clinical finishing and widely regarded as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1970.
Awards
- Ballon d’Or: 1970
- German Footballer of the Year (2): 1967, 1969.
- Bundesliga Top Scorer (7): 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978.
- European Golden Shoe (2): 1969/70, 1971/72.
- FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1970
- UEFA European Championship Top Scorer: 1972
- European Cup Top Scorer (4): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977.
