Linked from

The 26 pages that link to Ballon d'Or, each with the reason it gives.

• Lionel MessiRelated: Messi has won the award more times than any other player.

• Cristiano RonaldoRelated: Ronaldo won the award five times, placing him among its most decorated recipients.

• Johan CruyffRelated: Cruyff won the award three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974.

• Ronaldo NazárioRelated: Nazário won it in 1997 and 2002, recognizing his peak seasons and comeback.

• Gerd MüllerRelated: Müller won the 1970 award after his outstanding World Cup and club performances.

• Laureus World Sports AwardsCompared with: Unlike Laureus, it focuses on individual football performance.

• RonaldinhoNarrower topic: Ronaldinho's 2005 win placed his peak among the era's most celebrated individual achievements.

• XaviRelated: Xavi's repeated high finishes raised discussion about how awards value midfield control against goalscoring.

• Bobby CharltonNarrower topic: Charlton’s 1966 honor was one edition of this individual award.

• FIFA World Player of the YearRelated: It was the award’s major parallel honor and later joined it in a combined prize.

• Kylian MbappéRelated: Mbappé’s individual honors and club performances place him in the award’s recurring conversation.

• Michel PlatiniRelated: Platini won the award three consecutive times, from 1983 through 1985.

• Roberto BaggioNarrower topic: Baggio’s 1993 win distinguishes his peak from the later awards earned by Italian forwards.

• Marco van BastenNarrower topic: Van Basten won it three times, placing his peak among the sport’s most decorated careers.

• Ruud GullitRelated: Gullit won the 1987 award after a standout season with PSV and the Netherlands.

• Eusébio (footballer)Narrower topic: Eusébio’s 1965 award placed him among the sport’s most celebrated players.

• Luka ModrićRelated: Modrić won the 2018 award after Croatia's World Cup run and success with Real Madrid.

• Alfredo Di StéfanoRelated: Di Stéfano won the award in 1957 and 1959, recognizing his stature in European football.

• Didier DrogbaCompared with: Drogba’s club achievements did not bring him this individual award, highlighting the gap between team success and personal recognition.

• Lothar MatthäusNarrower topic: Matthäus’s 1990 win was the first by a German player since the award’s eligibility expanded.

• Kevin KeeganRelated: Keegan won it in consecutive years, 1978 and 1979.

• Manuel NeuerRelated: Neuer finished third in the 2014 vote, an unusually high placement for a goalkeeper.

• Oleg BlokhinNarrower topic: The award’s history explains the significance and eligibility rules behind Blokhin’s 1975 win.

• John CharlesRelated: Charles placed third in the 1959 award after his Juventus successes.

• Jude BellinghamRelated: Bellingham’s club performances placed him among the nominees for the 2023 award.

• Michael LaudrupCompared with: Laudrup never won the award despite acclaim as one of his generation’s finest playmakers.