6 Barcelona Players to Win the Ballon d'Or as Yamal, Raphina Vie for 2025 Award
The Ballon d'Or has been football's most prestigious individual prize since its creation in 1956.
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Over the decades, Barcelona have built a reputation for assembling some of the game’s biggest stars, cementing their status as one of the most successful clubs in football history.
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No club has produced more Ballon d'Or winners than Barcelona. While arch-rivals Real Madrid match Barça's tally with 12 men’s winners, the Catalan giants also boast three women’s Ballon d'Or recipients, giving them the overall edge.
Barcelona made history in 2010 when, for the first time, all three Ballon d'Or finalists came from the same club. Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi Hernández — all graduates of the famous La Masia academy — shared the podium that year.
YEN.com.gh highlights the Barcelona legends who have lifted the Ballon d'Or.
Lionel Messi (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019)
The most decorated player in football history, Lionel Messi leads the way with a record six Ballon d'Or titles won while at Barcelona — the most by any player for a single club. His six trophies account for half of Barça's men's Ballon d'Or wins.
After departing Barcelona in 2021, Messi added two more Ballon d'Or titles, bringing his total to a record-breaking eight — three more than Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi remains the only player to win the award four consecutive times, achieving that feat during Pep Guardiola's golden era at Camp Nou. Widely regarded as the greatest of all time, Messi dazzled the Camp Nou faithful for over 15 years, becoming synonymous with football's most prestigious individual prize.
Ronaldinho (2005)
Ronaldinho's extraordinary flair, blistering speed, and joyful style of play earned him the 2005 Ballon d'Or after leading Barcelona to their first La Liga title of the 21st century.
The Brazilian magician also lifted the FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil that year and capped off his campaign with an unforgettable two-goal performance against Real Madrid — considered one of the greatest Clásico showings ever.
A global icon of the modern game, Ronaldinho's peak in 2005 showcased the magic and creativity that defined his career.
Rivaldo (1999)
Rivaldo became the second Brazilian in history to claim the Ballon d'Or when he secured the award in 1999. That season, he played a crucial role in guiding Barcelona to back-to-back La Liga titles under Louis van Gaal.
Often underrated among Brazil’s football greats, Rivaldo was instrumental for the Seleção, starring in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals. During his Ballon d'Or-winning year, he also led Brazil to Copa América glory, claiming the tournament's best player award.
Rivaldo’s technical brilliance and decisive impact made him one of the game's finest, as he comfortably beat David Beckham and Andriy Shevchenko to the top prize.
Hristo Stoichkov (1994)
A key figure in Barcelona's iconic "Dream Team" under Johan Cruyff, Hristo Stoichkov was among the most feared strikers of the 1990s.
The Bulgarian star helped lead Barça to four consecutive La Liga titles and their first-ever Champions League crown in 1992. His finest year came in 1994 when he propelled Barcelona to another league title and played a decisive role in their Champions League run.
Stoichkov’s explosive pace, goal-scoring instinct, and fiery passion earned him the Ballon d'Or, cementing his place among football’s elite.
Johan Cruyff (1973 & 1974)
Few figures have left a greater mark on Barcelona than Johan Cruyff.
The Dutch legend arrived as a player and immediately helped lift the club out of Real Madrid's shadow, guiding Barcelona to their first league title in 14 years during his debut season.
Cruyff won his second and third Ballon d'Or trophies while at Barcelona, adding to the first he secured in 1971 with Ajax. In 1974, he also led the Netherlands to the World Cup final, with his team widely regarded as one of the greatest sides never to win the tournament.
Luis Suárez (1960)
Not to be confused with the Uruguayan striker, Luis Suárez remains the only player born in Spain to ever win a men's Ballon d'Or.
Luis Suárez Miramontes was the fifth player to ever win the award and the first in Barcelona's history. He won the league that year and was given the award over Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskás.
He guided Barcelona to a European final where the Blaugranas fell to Benfica; however, Suárez would win the continental trophy later on in his career when he made the move to Inter Milan, a club where he became a legend.
Source: AFP
