Question: who won the most ballon d'or in history
Answer: Player 1st 2nd 3rd Lionel Messi 5 ( 2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2015 ) 5 ( 2008 , 2013 , 2014 , 2016 , 2017 ) 1 ( 2007 ) Cristiano Ronaldo 5 ( 2008 , 2013 , 2014 , 2016 , 2017 ) 5 ( 2007 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012 , 2015 ) -- Michel Platini 3 ( 1983 , 1984 , 1985 ) -- 2 ( 1977 , 1980 ) Johan Cruyff 3 ( 1971 , 1973 , 1974 ) -- 1 ( 1975 ) Marco van Basten 3 ( 1988 , 1989 , 1992 ) -- -- Franz Beckenbauer 2 ( 1972 , 1976 ) 2 ( 1974 , 1975 ) 1 ( 1966 ) Ronaldo 2 ( 1997 , 2002 ) 1 ( 1996 ) 1 ( 1998 ) Alfredo Di Stéfano 2 ( 1957 , 1959 ) 1 ( 1956 ) --