Top 10 countries with most Ballon d’Or winners in history
The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by the French news magazine France Football since 1956. Argentina, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal were tied for the most Ballon d’Or winners as of October 2022.
The French Football Association did not change its position on the inclusion of non-European players who compete in Europe and are also eligible for the renowned Ballon d’Or until 1995. The senior editor of France Football magazine came up with the concept for such an award in 1956. Only European players who were actively competing in Europe were eligible for the Ballon d’Or and were voted by renowned journalists. By making this distinction, early Ballon d’Or contenders such as Diego Maradona or Pele were ruled out.
Most men’s Ballon d’Or winners 1956-2022, by country
| Country | Players | Wins |
|---|---|---|
 France | 5 | 7 |
 Germany | 5 | 7 |
 Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
 Portugal | 3 | 7 |
 Argentina | 1 | 7 |
 Italy | 5 | 5 |
 Brazil | 4 | 5 |
 England | 4 | 5 |
 Soviet Union | 3 | 3 |
 Spain | 2 | 3 |
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