Which player has won the most Ballon d'Or awards while playing in La Liga?

Which player has won the most Ballon d'Or awards while playing in La Liga? Lionel Messi has won the most, with eight Ballon d'Or awards.

Messi won his awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. All eight came during his long Barcelona career, so he is the clear record-holder among players whose winning years were spent with a La Liga club. His first four victories made him the first player to win the award four times.

The Ballon d'Or is an annual individual football award presented by France Football. It began in 1956 and originally recognised European players, before its eligibility rules expanded. Voting is based on individual performances, team achievements and sporting conduct, with journalists from around the world selecting the winner.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the nearest modern rival, with five awards won while representing Real Madrid and Manchester United. Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stéfano each won three overall. A common confusion is counting FIFA’s separate “The Best” award or treating the 2020 cancellation as a Ballon d'Or victory; neither changes Messi’s record.