Football has always worshipped its gods. But when one player starts redefining what’s possible—over and over again—we start asking: are we watching greatness, or something beyond it?
How Did the Ballon d'Or Evolve Into Football’s Ultimate Prize?
The Ballon d'Or began in 1956 as a strictly European affair—only players from European clubs were eligible. Run by France Football, the award was meant to spotlight continental excellence. Back then, the game was slower, less globalized. Televised matches were still rare. Winning it meant being voted best among peers by journalists from UEFA countries. Simple. Regional. Prestigious, yes—but not yet iconic.
And that’s where everything changed: expansion. In 1995, the rules shifted—African and South American players based in Europe could now qualify. George Weah, playing for AC Milan, became the first non-European winner in 1995. That changes everything. It turned a regional trophy into a global competition disguised as an award. Then, in 2007, the dam broke completely: eligibility opened to all professionals worldwide. Suddenly, South American stars not in Europe—like Boca Juniors’ Juan Román Riquelme—were technically in the running. (Though realistically, the spotlight stayed firmly on La Liga, Premier League, and Serie A.)
The issue remains: as the world of football grew, so did the politics behind the vote. Journalists from over 90 countries now cast ballots. Weightings shifted. Campaigning began—yes, clubs and media machines now lobby for their candidates. The award stopped being just about who was best and started reflecting who had the loudest echo.
So when Messi won his fifth, it wasn’t just a personal triumph. It was a symbol: individual excellence, amplified by media, monetization, and global reach.
What Were the Early Years of the Ballon d'Or Like?
From 1956 to the early 1980s, the Ballon d'Or rotated among a few dominant nations—mostly England, West Germany, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union. Legends like Bobby Charlton (1966), Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976), and Kevin Keegan (1978, 1979) took turns. But no one won more than twice—except Michel Platini.
Platini, the French maestro, did it three times in a row: 1983, 1984, 1985. At that point, three in a row was unheard of. People didn’t think about this enough at the time, but Platini’s dominance was a turning point. He wasn’t just the best—he was transformative. His vision, free-kick mastery, and control at Juventus redefined the number 10 role. For a moment, it seemed three might be the unbreakable ceiling.
When Did the Globalization of the Award Begin?
The 1995 inclusion rule wasn’t just an administrative tweak. It was a philosophical shift. Football was no longer a European pastime with colonial outposts—it was becoming a world language. Weah’s win was poetic: a Liberian star, raised on dirt pitches, conquering Europe and claiming its highest honor. His legacy? Proof that brilliance could emerge from anywhere.
Yet, the award still favored European-based players. Ronaldinho won in 2005 after dazzling with Barcelona. But by 2007, the stage was set for a new era—one where continents no longer limited contenders, only performance did.
Why Is Lionel Messi’s Fifth Ballon d’Or So Significant?
Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, a year so perfect it feels scripted. He scored 38 goals across competitions. Led Barcelona to a historic sextuple. Won La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. His numbers were absurd: 91 goals in all competitions in 2012, a record recognized by Guinness. That season alone—he could’ve won three Ballons d’Or if they gave them out monthly.
He won again in 2010, 2011, 2012—four in a row. Then Ronaldo struck back, winning in 2013 and 2014. The race tightened. Tension built. Fans picked sides. Media hyped the “duopoly.” And then—2015. Messi returned with 58 goals, orchestrated tiki-taka at its most hypnotic, and helped Barcelona win another Champions League. The vote wasn’t close: he took 41.33% of the points, far ahead of Ronaldo’s 27.76%. That was the moment: fifth Ballon d’Or. Alone at the top.
But here’s the thing—Messi didn’t stop. He added a sixth in 2019, seventh in 2021, and an eighth in 2023. By then, the question had shifted: not who was first to five, but could anyone ever catch him?
And that’s exactly where the conversation gets tricky. Because now we’re asking: is the Ballon d’Or still about the best player—or the best campaign?
How Did Messi’s 2015 Victory Break Historical Patterns?
Before Messi, no one had even reached five. Platini, Van Basten, Cruyff—each had three. Ronaldo hadn’t yet matched that. The psychological barrier of five was real. Reaching it meant entering a realm beyond legacy. It wasn’t just longevity—it was sustained, elite-level dominance across a decade.
Messi did it while playing the same position, for the same club, under multiple managers. That consistency is rare. Compare that to George Weah, who moved clubs frequently, or Ronaldo, who switched leagues (Premier League to La Liga to Serie A). Messi’s loyalty—or perhaps the symbiosis with Barcelona’s system—was a multiplier.
What Role Did Team Success Play in Messi’s Wins?
You can’t separate Messi from Barcelona’s golden era. From 2008 to 2015, the club won 14 of a possible 21 domestic and European trophies. That context matters. The Ballon d’Or has always favored players from winning teams. Only a handful of individual seasons—like Ronaldo’s 2008—have triumphed amid team underperformance.
Messi’s fifth win came alongside a treble: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League. That’s 67 goals in 67 games that season. His xG? Through the roof. But so was his assist count—16 in La Liga alone. He wasn’t just scoring—he was the engine. The brain. The heartbeat.
Messi vs Ronaldo: How Did Their Rivalry Redefine the Ballon d’Or Race?
The debate isn’t just about stats. It’s cultural. Emotional. Tribal. Messi: quiet, humble, almost shy. Ronaldo: loud, sculpted, self-aware. One played for Barcelona—until 2021—the other bounced across Manchester, Madrid, Turin, Riyadh. Their rivalry turned the Ballon d’Or into a biennial referendum.
From 2008 to 2017, they won every single award between them. Ten years. Ten Ballons d’Or. Shared. That’s not dominance. That’s occupation.
Yet—only Messi got to five first. Ronaldo matched him later, winning his fifth in 2017 after Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga double. But timing matters. Being first to five is like summiting Everest without oxygen—no one’s done it before, and you don’t know if it’s possible until you do.
Let’s be clear about this: Ronaldo’s 2017 win was deserved. He scored 42 goals that season. Led Real Madrid to continental glory. But Messi had already rewritten history two years earlier. The trailblazer gets the monument.
Which explains why, even now, many fans still consider Messi’s fifth the more iconic.
What Are the Key Differences in Their Ballon d’Or Wins?
Messi’s wins were often tied to all-around influence—playmaking, consistency, dribbling, vision. Ronaldo’s? Peak physical performance, clutch goals, aerial dominance. Messi averaged 10+ assists in four of his Ballon d’Or seasons. Ronaldo never crossed 8.
Yet, Ronaldo has more Champions League titles—5 to Messi’s 4. But Messi has more league titles—10 La Liga vs Ronaldo’s 7 across England, Spain, and Italy. These trade-offs fuel endless barstool arguments.
How Have Voting Trends Shifted Because of Their Duel?
Votes used to go to the most complete player. Now? They often go to the most visible. Ronaldo’s social media reach—over 600 million followers—may not be official, but influence isn’t measured in ballots alone. There’s a halo effect. A brand.
Hence the whispers: are journalists voting for performance—or legacy amplified by fame?
Are There Other Players Who Came Close to Five?
Platini had three. So did Johan Cruyff. Marco van Basten? Also three. These were titans. But none could sustain peak form long enough to challenge five. In the 1990s, the award scattered: 11 different winners from 1991 to 2001. Back then, dominance was fleeting.
More recently, Robert Lewandowski came close. In 2020, he scored 55 goals and won the treble with Bayern Munich. Yet, Messi still won the award. (Well, technically, it was canceled due to the pandemic. But polls showed Lewandowski leading.) In 2021, he lost to Messi again—by a narrow margin. Some experts argue he was robbed. Honestly, it is unclear whether regional bias played a role.
Then there’s Mohamed Salah. In 2018, he scored 44 goals for Liverpool. Stunning. But without a Champions League or Premier League title, he finished third. The problem is: team success still matters more than individual excellence in isolation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Any Player Won Five Consecutive Ballon d’Or Awards?
No. Messi won four in a row from 2009 to 2012—the closest anyone has come. After that, Ronaldo interrupted the streak by winning in 2013 and 2014. The idea of five straight feels almost impossible now. The competition is too fierce. The seasons too long. The scrutiny too intense.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo Win His Fifth Ballon d’Or Before or After Messi?
Ronaldo won his fifth in 2017—two years after Messi’s fifth in 2015. So Messi was first. Period. Ronaldo’s achievement was monumental, but Messi broke the ceiling.
Is the Ballon d’Or Still Relevant in Modern Football?
Yes—but with caveats. The award still carries prestige. But critics point to inconsistencies. In 2022, Karim Benzema won it after a strong season with Real Madrid. Fair? Mostly. But Messi won the 2023 edition after leading Argentina to a World Cup victory—despite playing fewer minutes and scoring fewer goals than several Premier League stars. That said, narrative matters. And sometimes, emotion outweighs statistics.
The Bottom Line
Lionel Messi was the first to win five Ballon d’Or awards—in 2015. That fact stands. But the deeper story? Football’s evolution from a team sport into a theater of individual mythmaking. We’re far from the days when a quiet vote among European journalists decided the best player.
I find this overrated: the idea that statistics alone determine greatness. Yes, goals and assists count. But so does influence. So does longevity. So does playing at the highest level while carrying the weight of expectation for over a decade.
My recommendation? Enjoy the debate. But don’t ignore context. Messi’s fifth wasn’t just a number—it was a statement. One that rewrote history, intensified a rivalry, and pushed the boundaries of what we believe is possible.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll never see another like it.