10 Players with the Most Individual Awards in Football History (Ranked)

Footballers are often judged by the trophies their clubs and national teams win during their careers, but individual accolades often provide a clearer picture of a player’s true impact and success. While football is undeniably a team sport, even the greatest players can sometimes be let down by their teammates or find themselves on teams that fail to secure major honors.

This is why individual awards, earned solely through a player’s performances, hold significant weight. A player can have an outstanding season but still end up without team silverware. From Golden Boots to Ballon d’Or trophies, these accolades contribute to building incredible resumes. Just look at Vinicius Junior, who narrowly missed out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or but was later crowned FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year.

To shine a light on these accomplishments, Betimate has compiled a list of the 10 footballers with the most individual accolades in history. Below are the results.

Ranking Factors

Since there can be debate over what qualifies as an individual award, it's important to clarify the criteria used to rank the players. Eligible personal accolades include:

• Ballon d’Or
• Super Ballon d’Or
• Top goalscorer awards for any major league
• Top scorer in continental competitions
• International tournament top scorer
• International tournament goal contributions
• Player of the Year awards (domestic, continental, or international)

These individual honors collectively highlight the unparalleled talent of some of football’s finest.

1. Lionel Messi

53 Awards

Lionel Messi secured his eighth Ballon d’Or in late 2023, adding yet another accolade to an already glittering career, following his instrumental role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph the year prior. It’s hard to argue against Messi being the greatest footballer of all time. Over the past two decades, the Argentine maestro has not only delighted fans with his extraordinary talent but also built an unmatched legacy of individual and team achievements.

Beyond his unparalleled collection of personal accolades, Messi is also the most decorated player in football history in terms of team success. The 36-year-old’s extensive honors include numerous top scorer awards across various competitions and being named Argentina Player of the Year an incredible 14 times. Truly, Messi’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

33 Awards

Where Messi features on a list, you can almost always expect Cristiano Ronaldo to be nearby. The Portuguese icon has carved out a legendary career, breaking nearly every goalscoring record imaginable and cementing himself as one of the most clinical finishers the sport has ever seen. Ronaldo stands as the top scorer in football history, surpassing legends like Pelé and even Messi himself.

Despite his phenomenal achievements, Ronaldo may feel a tinge of frustration at having played in the same era as Messi. His five Ballon d’Or titles, a remarkable feat, have often been overshadowed by the Argentine’s eight. Nevertheless, Ronaldo remains one of only two players in history to win the prestigious award more than three times. His ability to succeed across leagues is unparalleled, having been crowned the best player in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A—a testament to his dominance wherever he has played.

3. Marco van Basten

20 Awards

Marco van Basten’s career was tragically cut short by injury, forcing him to retire at just 31 years old. Despite this early exit, the Dutch legend's individual accolades rank just behind those of Messi and Ronaldo, boasting an impressive 20 awards. Most of these honors came from his exceptional goal-scoring feats during league seasons and international tournaments, representing Ajax, AC Milan, and the Netherlands national team.

Renowned as one of the greatest strikers of all time, not just of his era, Van Basten earned a reputation as a true footballing maestro. His brilliance is underscored by his three Ballon d’Or triumphs, achieved within just five years. Competing against a golden generation of Dutch talent, Van Basten stood out and was recognized as the Netherlands’ Player of the Year in 1985—a testament to his extraordinary impact on the game.

4. Ronaldo

18 Awards

Ronaldo Nazário graced some of the world’s most iconic clubs—AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid—amassing a glittering array of individual honors as their go-to star. The Brazilian striker was a force of nature, combining blistering pace, raw power, and exquisite skill to dominate defenders with ease. His incredible technique and physicality made him one of the most feared forwards in football history.

Ronaldo’s brilliance extended beyond club football, as he carried the weight of an entire nation’s expectations throughout his career. Known affectionately as “R9,” he secured two Ballon d’Or titles, with the second coming in 2002 after a stunning performance in the World Cup final, where Brazil triumphed over Germany 2-0. His accolades reflect a remarkable career, showcasing a perfect balance of international and club-level achievements.

5. Gerd Muller

18 Awards

Robert Lewandowski may be regarded as the most clinical goalscorer in modern Bundesliga history, but decades before the Polish star was lighting up Bayern Munich, Gerd Müller was setting an even higher standard for the club. Known as "Der Bomber," Müller remains the Bundesliga's all-time leading scorer, with over 300 goals to his name—a record that stands as a testament to his unmatched finishing ability.

Müller claimed the league's top scorer title in seven separate seasons with Bayern Munich, cementing his legendary status in German football. His brilliance wasn’t confined to domestic competitions either; on the European stage, he was the top scorer in the European Cup four times, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most lethal strikers in history. Müller’s legacy places him among the greatest German players of all time, rivaled only by icons such as the late Franz Beckenbauer.

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6. Eusebio

17 Awards

While Cristiano Ronaldo dominates modern discussions about the greatest Portuguese footballers, Eusebio's legendary status remains undiminished. A true icon of Benfica, Eusebio was renowned for his lethal finishing ability, consistently finding the net with astonishing ease. His prowess is highlighted by his seven awards as the top scorer in the Portuguese league, including an incredible streak of five consecutive wins from 1964 to 1968.

Eusebio's remarkable talent ensured his enduring legacy as one of the game's all-time greats. Despite his passing in 2014, the "Black Panther" continues to feature prominently in conversations about football's greatest players, a testament to the profound impact he had on the sport during his era.

7. Zinedine Zidane

13 Awards

Zinedine Zidane famously led France to World Cup glory in 1998, orchestrating a 3-0 victory over Ronaldo's Brazil in the final. The gifted midfielder's standout performances during the tournament and his brilliance at club level earned him the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year honors that same year. Zidane also claimed the title of French Player of the Year, edging out fierce competition from the likes of Thierry Henry.

Zidane's excellence extended beyond 1998. He delivered another masterclass at Euro 2000, where he was named Player of the Tournament as France claimed the title. Though his 2006 World Cup campaign ended in controversy with a red card for his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the final, Zidane's performances throughout the tournament were legendary. Coupled with a glittering array of club-level accolades, Zidane's career remains one of the most celebrated in football history.

8. Michel Platini

12 Awards

Michel Platini, the second midfielder to make this prestigious list after his compatriot Zinedine Zidane, was a player whose goalscoring prowess rivaled some of the best forwards in football history. The year 1984 was truly his moment, as the Juventus maestro dominated the European Championships, finishing as the tournament's top scorer and leading France to a historic triumph.

This period marked the pinnacle of Platini's illustrious career. His remarkable performances earned him three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards in 1983, 1984, and 1985—a feat few have matched. Renowned for his ability to control the midfield while making decisive contributions in attack, Platini epitomized the complete footballer. His mastery of both playmaking and goal-scoring made him the ultimate asset for any team.

9. Alfredo Di Stefano

12 Awards

Alfredo Di Stefano, who won two of the first Ballon d'Or trophies in the late 1950s, made history in 1989 by becoming the inaugural recipient of the Super Ballon d'Or. This prestigious award, given to the player deemed the best of the past 30 years, remains exclusively associated with Di Stefano. He beat the likes of Michel Platini to the honour, further solidifying his remarkable legacy.

Di Stefano's career took a unique turn when he switched international allegiances, leaving Argentina behind to represent Spain. In doing so, he became one of the greatest—if not the greatest—players in Spanish football history. With four Spanish Player of the Year titles, Di Stefano firmly established himself as an icon in his adopted country.

10. Johan Cruyff

10 Awards

Though Johan Cruyff may sit at the bottom of this list, he remains one of the most elegant players to ever grace the pitch. His exceptional dribbling and sharp footballing intellect delighted fans fortunate enough to witness his talent. Cruyff’s legacy in Dutch football is evident, having won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in 1984, surpassing fellow Netherlands international Marco van Basten for his third such honor.

Cruyff’s three Ballon d'Or wins in just four years during the early 1970s cemented his status as one of the world's top players, even if his position on this list is lower than those ahead of him. His influence endures at both Ajax and Barcelona, where he became a beloved figure, not only for his playing contributions but also for his managerial impact at two of Europe's most iconic clubs.