From Barcelona to Ajax: Top 10 clubs with most Ballon d’Or winners

• FC Barcelona leads with 12 Ballon d’Or trophies, thanks to players like Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi
• Manchester United has produced four Ballon d'Or winners, including legends like George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo
• Ajax’s Johan Cruyff is the only player from the Dutch club to win the award, claiming it three times from 1971-1974

The Ballon d'Or remains the most prestigious individual honour in men's football, with the modern era largely defined by the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Together, the Argentine and Portuguese legends have claimed 15 of the last 17 awards since 2008, dominating the football world with their incredible achievements over the past two decades.

While the brilliance of Messi, Ronaldo, and other winners is undeniable, their success is often built on the strength of their teams, providing the platform for their star performances. 

Since its inception in 1956, major European clubs have produced numerous Ballon d'Or winners, and TheRadar explores which clubs have had the most.

Top clubs with the highest Ballon d’Or recipients in history

TheRadar has compiled a list of clubs with the highest-ranking Ballon d’Or recipients below.

1. FC Barcelona - 12

FC Barcelona leads the way in Ballon d’Or winners, boasting six players with a combined 12 trophies. Their first win came in 1960 when Uruguayan icon Luis Suárez clinched the award after guiding Barça to a La Liga triumph. Two decades later, Johan Cruyff earned back-to-back Ballon d'Ors in 1973 and 1974, revolutionising the club’s playing style. 

Bulgarian winger Hristo Stoichkov broke the prolonged drought, winning in 1994 after netting 24 goals and securing another league title. Brazilian maestros Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldinho (2004) followed, dazzling fans with their brilliance. 

Then came Lionel Messi, dominating from 2009-2012 with four consecutive wins, adding two more in 2015 and 2019.

2. Real Madrid - 12

Real Madrid, one of football’s most iconic clubs, holds the second-highest number of Ballon d’Or winners, with 11 players claiming the prestigious title. The club dominated early on, with Alfredo Di Stefano winning twice (1957 and 1959) and Raymond Kopa in 1958. 

After a long drought, Luis Figo won it in 2000, though his win stemmed from his brilliance at rivals Barcelona. Ronaldo Nazario’s 2002 World Cup heroics earned him the award, followed by Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 for leading Italy to World Cup glory. 

Cristiano Ronaldo then redefined dominance, winning four Ballon d’Ors between 2013 and 2017, thanks to his incredible goal-scoring feats and numerous titles with Madrid. Luka Modric broke the Ronaldo-Messi reign in 2018, and Karim Benzema's triumph in 2022 helped Real Madrid tie with Barcelona for the top spot in Ballon d’Or wins.

3. Juventus - 8

Juventus, one of Italy's most successful clubs, has produced eight Ballon d'Or winners over its storied history. Their first came in 1961 when Omar Sivori claimed the prestigious award. However, Juventus truly dominated the Ballon d'Or in the 1980s, with four consecutive wins between 1982 and 1985. Paolo Rossi secured his win for his World Cup heroics in 1982, followed by Michel Platini, who claimed three in a row thanks to his remarkable performances, leading Juve to two Scudettos and a European Cup. 

In 1993, Roberto Baggio earned the accolade after guiding Juventus to the UEFA Cup with 30 goals. Zinedine Zidane's brilliance in 1998 earned him his first Ballon d'Or, while Pavel Nedved, with his majestic displays, won Juventus' most recent in 2003.

4. AC Milan - 6

AC Milan, a club with a storied history, has endured challenging years but is now on the rise again. Throughout their illustrious past, they have produced six Ballon d'Or winners. The first was Gianni Rivera, who played a pivotal role in Milan’s European Cup triumph in 1968-69. 

Two decades later, Ruud Gullit claimed the award in 1987 after stellar performances at PSV. Marco van Basten followed, winning back-to-back titles in 1988 and 1989, leading Milan to consecutive Champions League victories and netting 40 goals over those seasons. He added another Ballon d'Or in 1992. 

In 1995, George Weah made history as the only African to win the award, though his success was mostly with PSG. The club's most recent winner, Andriy Shevchenko, claimed the trophy in 2004 after leading Milan to the Serie A title and scoring 28 goals.

5. Bayern Munich - 5

As Germany’s most successful football club, it’s no surprise that Bayern Munich boasts the highest number of Ballon d’Or winners in the Bundesliga. 

The club’s five awards are shared by three legendary German players: Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Müller was Bayern’s first recipient in 1970, scoring 52 goals that season, including 10 at the World Cup. 

Beckenbauer followed in 1972 after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern and the UEFA Euros with Germany. Rummenigge claimed the honour twice, in 1980 and 1981, after netting a combined 75 goals and leading Bayern to consecutive Bundesliga titles. 

6. Manchester United - 4

Manchester United has long been home to some of the finest “No 7s” in football, with half of their Ballon d'Or winners being standout wingers. 

Denis Law was the first Red Devil to claim the award in 1964, netting an astonishing 46 goals in 42 matches. Sir Bobby Charlton followed in 1966, largely due to his heroic performance in helping England win the FIFA World Cup. Two years later, George Best completed a trio of United winners, bagging 32 goals and leading the team to their first-ever European Cup victory. Cristiano Ronaldo then brought the Ballon d'Or back to Old Trafford in 2008 after a sensational season, scoring 42 goals and winning the European double for United.

7. Dynamo Kyiv - 2

During the 1970s and 1980s, Dynamo Kyiv were a dominant force in European football, producing two Ballon d'Or winners. Ukrainian icon Oleg Blokhin claimed the prestigious award in 1975 after an impressive season, netting 28 goals in 42 matches and leading Kyiv to victory in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. 

A decade later, in 1986, midfielder Igor Belanov followed in Blokhin's footsteps by winning the Ballon d'Or. 

Like Blokhin, Belanov also guided Kyiv to Cup Winners' Cup success, contributing 14 goals in 32 appearances that season.

8. Inter Milan - 2

Lothar Matthäus and Ronaldo Nazário both claimed the prestigious Ballon d'Or after standout performances outside their time at Inter Milan, despite the club’s rich history. 

Matthäus earned the accolade in 1990 for his pivotal role in Germany's World Cup triumph, while Ronaldo secured the honour in 1997 after a brilliant season with Barcelona, leading them to a Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup double. 

9. Hamburg - 2

In the late 1970s, Hamburg claimed the Bundesliga title, aided by an English player, Kevin Keegan, whose exceptional performances earned him back-to-back awards.

Though better known today for his iconic roles at Liverpool and later Newcastle United, his time in Germany showcased his elegance and skill.

At a time when British players rarely moved abroad, he stood out as a trailblazer. Hamburg, the club he once called home, has, however, since experienced highs and lows, from European triumphs to relegation struggles and mid-table finishes.

10. Ajax - 1

Johan Cruyff won the Ballon d'Or three times between 1971 and 1974 with AFC Ajax, leaving a lasting legacy as the father of modern football tactics. His influence shaped managers like Pep Guardiola and Marcelo Bielsa, as well as the philosophy of FC Barcelona, one of the world's most iconic football institutions. 

Despite Ajax's renowned youth academy, which recently nearly reached a Champions League final with homegrown talent, no other player from the club has won the Ballon d'Or. This could be due to their top prospects being snapped up by bigger clubs early in their careers.

2024 Ballon d'Or: Who will reign in a new era without Messi and Ronaldo?

Previously, TheRadar reported that as the 2024 Ballon d'Or approaches, excitement builds for one of the most anticipated nights in football. 

The prestigious awards ceremony, which will be held in Paris on October 28, promises to crown the year’s finest talents, and for the first time in two decades, the footballing world must look beyond the iconic duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with neither legend in the running for the men's prize, the stage is set for a new rivalry to rise.