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Argentina and France lead the historical Ballon d’Or standings with eight wins each, while Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal headline the contenders for the 2026 award.
The countdown to the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is almost over, with football’s biggest individual honour set to be presented in London on October 26.
The 70th edition of the prestigious award has attracted attention from around the world, with England captain Harry Kane among the leading contenders after an outstanding season for Bayern Munich and the national team.
Other prominent nominees include defending champion Ousmane Dembélé, eight-time winner Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Spain midfielder Rodri.
The winners will be determined using three main criteria: individual performances and decisive contributions, team achievements and trophies won, and a player’s class and fair play. The 2026 men’s shortlist recognises performances during the 2025/26 season, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With anticipation building ahead of the ceremony, here is a look at the countries with the most men’s Ballon d’Or victories in the historical tally.
1. Argentina — 8 awards
Argentina shares the top position with France, with all eight of its victories credited to Lionel Messi.
The Inter Miami forward has won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Messi remains the most successful player in the award’s history. His nomination for 2026 gives him another opportunity to add to his record, following another productive season with Inter Miami and Argentina.
At 39, he faces competition from a new generation of stars, but his achievements continue to place him among the most decorated footballers of all time.
2. France — 8 awards
France also has eight men’s Ballon d’Or victories, achieved by six different players across several generations.
The country’s most recent winner is Ousmane Dembélé, who claimed the award in 2025 after his outstanding performances for Paris Saint-Germain.
France’s previous winners include:
- Raymond Kopa — 1958
- Michel Platini — 1983, 1984 and 1985
- Jean-Pierre Papin — 1991
- Zinedine Zidane — 1998
- Karim Benzema — 2022
- Ousmane Dembélé — 2025
France has several representatives on the 2026 shortlist, including Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.
Another French victory would give the country the opportunity to move ahead of Argentina in the historical standings.
3. Portugal — 7 awards
Portugal’s seven victories have been shared by three football legends: Eusébio, Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Eusébio won in 1965, while Figo claimed the award in 2000. Ronaldo has won five times, in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Ronaldo and Messi dominated the award for much of the past two decades, creating one of football’s most memorable individual rivalries.
However, Ronaldo is absent from the 2026 shortlist. Portugal’s hopes of securing an eighth award rest with nominees including Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes, João Neves and Vitinha.
4. Germany — 7 awards
Germany has produced several Ballon d’Or winners, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s.
Its previous winners include:
- Gerd Müller — 1970
- Franz Beckenbauer — 1972 and 1976
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge — 1980 and 1981
- Lothar Matthäus — 1990
- Matthias Sammer — 1996
Sammer remains Germany’s most recent winner, having claimed the trophy in 1996.
No German player appears on the 2026 men’s shortlist, meaning the country will have to wait at least another year for a chance to add to its total.
5. Netherlands — 7 awards
The Netherlands has also collected seven men’s Ballon d’Or victories, with three iconic players responsible for its entire tally.
Johan Cruyff won three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Ruud Gullit claimed the award in 1987, while Marco van Basten won in 1988, 1989 and 1992.
Their achievements reflected the influence of Dutch football during a period when the country produced some of the most technically gifted players in the game.
The Netherlands has no nominee on the 2026 men’s shortlist, so its historical tally will remain unchanged this year.
6. Brazil — 5 awards
Brazil has won the men’s Ballon d’Or five times, with Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaká among the country’s most celebrated recipients.
The Brazilian winners are:
- Ronaldo — 1997 and 2002
- Rivaldo — 1999
- Ronaldinho — 2005
- Kaká — 2007
Brazil’s most recent victory came in 2007, when Kaká won following an outstanding campaign with AC Milan.
The country has several nominees in 2026, including Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel and Marquinhos.
A Brazilian victory would end a long wait for the country’s next winner.
7. England — 5 awards
With the 2026 ceremony taking place in London, England will have a special opportunity to celebrate its Ballon d’Or history.
Stanley Matthews won the inaugural award in 1956, while Bobby Charlton claimed it in 1966. Kevin Keegan won twice, in 1978 and 1979, before Michael Owen became England’s most recent winner in 2001.
England’s hopes for 2026 are led by Harry Kane, who enjoyed a remarkable season with Bayern Munich. He is joined on the shortlist by Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
Kane’s reported tally of 73 goals for club and country has made him one of the most closely watched candidates in this year’s race.
If he wins, he would become the first Englishman to claim the men’s Ballon d’Or since Owen in 2001.
8. Italy — 5 awards
Italy’s five men’s Ballon d’Or victories have been won by five different players.
The country’s previous winners are:
- Omar Sívori — 1961
- Gianni Rivera — 1969
- Paolo Rossi — 1982
- Roberto Baggio — 1993
- Fabio Cannavaro — 2006
Cannavaro’s victory followed his influential role in Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup triumph.
Italy has not produced a men’s Ballon d’Or winner since then, and its wait for another recipient continues.
9. Spain — 4 awards
Spain’s historical total includes Alfredo Di Stéfano, who won twice, Luis Suárez and Rodri.
The country’s previous winners are:
- Alfredo Di Stéfano — 1957 and 1959
- Luis Suárez — 1960
- Rodri — 2024
Spain has several nominees for the 2026 award, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz and Ferran Torres.
Yamal’s emergence has attracted particular attention, while Rodri returns to the race as a former winner.
Spain’s presence on the shortlist gives the country another opportunity to add to its historical total.
Who will win the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The race remains one of the biggest talking points in world football ahead of the ceremony.
Kane’s goal-scoring record has strengthened his case, while Dembélé will attempt to retain the award. Messi is chasing a ninth title, and Mbappé, Yamal and Rodri are among the other high-profile candidates.
The outcome will depend on how voters assess individual performances alongside team success and fair play.
The 2026 ceremony will take place at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, marking the first time the Ballon d’Or awards have been hosted in London.
For now, Argentina and France remain level at the top of the historical country standings, while Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands follow with seven victories each.
The question is whether this year’s winner will add another chapter to a familiar footballing legacy—or help a new country move closer to the summit.
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