Ballon d'Or: A Deep Dive into Countries and Players with the Most Accolades

As the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards draw near, speculation is rife regarding the potential recipients of this prestigious prize in the men's category. The 30-player shortlist includes three previous winners: Lionel Messi, the record eight-time recipient; Ousmane Dembele, the current holder; and Rodri, the 2024 winner. While seasoned stars like Harry Kane, the legendary Lionel Messi, and emerging talent Lamine Yamal are considered frontrunners, the Ballon d'Or has a history of unpredictability. Organizers outline the award's criteria in order of importance: individual performances, collective performances and titles won, and class and fair play. The evaluation period for the shortlisted candidates spans from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, concluding on the day of the World Cup final.

Al Jazeera Sport examines the historical dominance of certain nations and players in the men's Ballon d'Or since its inception in 1956.

Argentina — 8 Awards

All of Argentina's Ballon d'Or trophies have been secured by Lionel Messi, an undisputed football great. Messi, who recently retired from international football after leading Argentina to a World Cup runner-up finish and securing the Major League Soccer title with Inter Miami, has won the award a record eight times (2009-2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023). His image accepting the 2023 award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris is a testament to his enduring legacy.

France — 8 Awards

Ousmane Dembele's victory last year brought France's tally to a record eight awards, distributed among six players across different eras. Several French players on the current shortlist, including Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, William Saliba, and Dayot Upamecano, contributed to France's fourth-place finish at the World Cup. Notable past French winners include Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema, and Ousmane Dembele.

Portugal — 7 Awards

Portugal's seven awards are attributed to three players: Eusebio, Luis Figo, and the five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, alongside Messi, has been a dominant force in the awards for the past two decades. Despite his exclusion from the shortlist for the fourth consecutive year, other Portuguese players like Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, and Vitinha could potentially add to the nation's tally.

Germany — 7 Awards

Germany's last Ballon d'Or winner was Matthias Sammer in 1996, though the country enjoyed earlier success. No German players feature on this year's shortlist. Previous German laureates include Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthäus, and Matthias Sammer.

Netherlands — 7 Awards

Similar to Germany, the Netherlands last celebrated a Ballon d'Or win in the 1990s and has no players shortlisted for the current men's award. The country's seven prizes were won by Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, and Marco van Basten.

Brazil — 5 Awards

Football icon Ronaldo claimed Brazil's first Ballon d'Or in 1997, followed by four more victories from Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaka. Players like Gabriel, Marquinhos, and Vinicius Jr. on the 2026 shortlist could potentially end Brazil's two-decade drought.

England — 5 Awards

With the award ceremony returning to England, hopes are high for a national triumph, harkening back to Stanley Matthews' win in the inaugural award in 1956. Current captain Harry Kane, who has had an exceptional season with Bayern Munich and led England to a third-place World Cup finish, is a strong contender. He is joined on the shortlist by Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. England's past winners include Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen.

Italy — 5 Awards

Italy's five Ballon d'Or awards were won by five different players, with no wins in the last two decades. Notable Italian winners include Omar Sivori, Gianni Rivera, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, and Fabio Cannavaro.

Spain — 4 Awards

Spain secured multiple Ballon d'Or awards last year and is poised for further success following their World Cup victory. Lamine Yamal, the Kopa Trophy winner, is among the shortlisted Spanish players, alongside Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Ferran Torres.