FIFA Ballon d'Or award: The top 5 winners

Manchester City's Spanish defensive midfielder Rodri won the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2024 award

Rodri beat favourite Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid to win the coveted award

Here's a look at the top 5 winners of the Ballon d'Or award, since 1956

Lionel Messi

The Argentine superstar has won it a record eight times (2009 – 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese legend has won it five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)

Johan Cruyff

The Netherlands legend won it four times (1972 - 1974)

Michel Platini

The French attacking midfielder won the award thrice (1983 - 1985)

Marco van Basten

The Netherlands centre-forward, too, won it three times (1988, 1989, 1992)

Players who it twice: Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain – 1957, 1959), Kevin Keegan (England – 1978, 1979), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany – 1980, 1981) and Ronaldo (Brazil – 1997, 2002)