Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times. His victories came in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 — one with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid.
Two of those awards (2013 and 2014) were presented under the FIFA Ballon d’Or name during the period when France Football and FIFA combined their individual awards.
This total puts Ronaldo second on the all-time list, behind Lionel Messi’s eight Ballon d’Or awards.
How Many Ballon d’Or Awards Has Cristiano Ronaldo Won?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards throughout his career.
| Year | Club | Award |
| 2008 | Manchester United | Ballon d’Or |
| 2013 | Real Madrid | FIFA Ballon d’Or |
| 2014 | Real Madrid | FIFA Ballon d’Or |
| 2016 | Real Madrid | Ballon d’Or |
| 2017 | Real Madrid | Ballon d’Or |
The distinction in award naming reflects a significant period in Ballon d’Or history.
Between 2010 and 2015, France Football and FIFA collaborated to present a combined award known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo won twice during the FIFA Ballon d’Or period, in 2013 and 2014. After the partnership ended following the 2015 edition, France Football returned to presenting the award under the Ballon d’Or name in 2016. Ronaldo won again in 2016 and 2017.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Five Ballon d’Or Wins
Ronaldo’s five victories span nearly a decade and two major clubs. Each came after seasons of high individual output and, in most cases, major team silverware.
2008 — Ronaldo’s First Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo claimed his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 while representing Manchester United.
He scored 42 goals in all competitions during the 2007–08 season, helping Manchester United win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. He also finished as the Champions League’s top scorer.
The victory made Ronaldo the third Portuguese player to win the award, after EusĂ©bio and LuĂs Figo.
2013 — Ronaldo’s Second Ballon d’Or
Seven years after his first win, Ronaldo reclaimed the Ballon d’Or in 2013, this time as a Real Madrid player. He won the FIFA Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribéry.
Ronaldo produced an outstanding 2013, scoring 69 goals in 59 matches for Real Madrid and Portugal. He also scored a hat-trick against Sweden in the World Cup qualifying play-offs as Portugal secured qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
2014 — Ronaldo’s Third Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo claimed back-to-back FIFA Ballon d’Or awards in 2014, his third overall.
Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2014, with Ronaldo playing a major role in the campaign. He scored a competition-record 17 goals during the 2013–14 Champions League season.
That European success, combined with his individual numbers, helped Ronaldo win his third Ballon d’Or and retain the award for a second consecutive year.
2016 — Ronaldo’s Fourth Ballon d’Or
After Lionel Messi won the 2015 Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo returned to claim his fourth award in 2016.
In 2016, the award returned to France Football’s sole organisation under the traditional Ballon d’Or name.
Ronaldo’s 2016 was defined by major international and club success. He helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and then captained Portugal to their first UEFA European Championship title.
He finished ahead of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in the Ballon d’Or voting.
2017 — Ronaldo’s Fifth Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo’s fifth and most recent Ballon d’Or arrived in 2017. Real Madrid completed a domestic and European double, winning La Liga and another Champions League title.
Ronaldo played a major role as Real Madrid won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League during the 2016–17 campaign.
He scored twice in the Champions League final against Juventus and finished the year with his fifth Ballon d’Or.
The victory moved him level with Lionel Messi on five Ballon d’Or awards at the time. He has not won the award since, though he remained a top-level performer for several years afterward.
How Many Ballon d’Or Awards Did Ronaldo Win With Manchester United?
Cristiano Ronaldo won one Ballon d’Or with Manchester United, in 2008. It was his first.
It recognized his outstanding 2007–08 season, in which he scored 42 goals and helped United win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo won the 2008 Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres.
How Many Ballon d’Or Awards Did Ronaldo Win With Real Madrid?
Cristiano Ronaldo won four Ballon d’Or awards while playing for Real Madrid: 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo Win the Ballon d’Or in Consecutive Years?
Yes. He won consecutive awards in 2013 and 2014, and again in 2016 and 2017. He did not win in 2015; that edition went to Lionel Messi.
How Many Times Was Cristiano Ronaldo Runner-Up for the Ballon d’Or?
Ronaldo finished second on multiple occasions, including 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2018. Several of those runner-up finishes came behind Messi.
Exact rankings for every year are recorded in France Football’s historical results; care should be taken not to confuse second place with third-place or other finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Ballon d’Or Wins
The Ballon d’Or records of football’s two greatest modern players tell different stories within the same narrative of excellence.
| Player | Ballon d’Or Wins |
| Lionel Messi | 8 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 |
Lionel Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won five. Messi’s eight victories are the most in the award’s history, while Ronaldo’s five place him second.
Ronaldo’s five winning years were 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Ballon d’Or awards does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards. His victories came in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
What years did Cristiano Ronaldo win the Ballon d’Or?
Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. These five victories represent his complete record in the award’s history.
Did Ronaldo win the Ballon d’Or with Manchester United?
Yes. Ronaldo won one Ballon d’Or while playing for Manchester United. This victory came in 2008, early in his career at the club.
How many Ballon d’Ors did Ronaldo win with Real Madrid?
Ronaldo won four Ballon d’Or awards during his time at Real Madrid. These victories came in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Did Ronaldo win two consecutive Ballon d’Or awards?
Yes. He won in 2013–2014 and 2016–2017.
Who has more Ballon d’Or awards, Messi or Ronaldo?
Lionel Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won five. Messi holds the all-time record for most Ballon d’Or victories.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo win the FIFA Ballon d’Or?
Yes. Ronaldo won the FIFA Ballon d’Or twice, in 2013 and 2014.
When did Cristiano Ronaldo win his fifth Ballon d’Or?
Cristiano Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d’Or in 2017. He finished ahead of Lionel Messi and Neymar in the voting.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. He won once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid.
Two of his victories, in 2013 and 2014, came during the FIFA Ballon d’Or period, while his 2008, 2016 and 2017 victories were presented under the Ballon d’Or name.
His five awards place him second on the all-time list behind Lionel Messi’s eight. For the complete historical record, see our [complete Ballon d’Or winners list].
