Ballon d’Or: Top 9 countries that have produced the most winners

The 2023 edition of the Ballon d'Or award is getting underway, with the winner set to be announced on October 31 at a ceremony in Paris.

A total of 30 football stars have been shortlisted for the prestigious gong, with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland the strong favourites to win.

The duo has been touted as the clear frontrunners after a successful year under review that saw them both hit multiple milestones.

Messi played a central role in helping Argentina lift the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Haaland's impressive goal-scoring form inspired Man City to a historic European treble.

While the Norwegian will be keen to win the prize for the first time in his career, the Argentine could lift it for a record-extending eighth time after an incredible football journey.

Surprisingly, despite Argentina producing top players in the past, the South American football powerhouse has produced just one Ballon d'Or winner in the shape of Messi.

With seven such awards to his name, GiveMeSport reports that the number is as many as any nation has been able to claim through multiple players.

As it stands, France has produced a record of five different Ballon d'Or winners, with Karim Benzema the latest winner from the country.

Eurosport reported Benzema picked the gong during the 2022 edition after an incredible season with Real Madrid that saw him help the La Liga giants win the Champions League.

Sports Brief takes a look at the top nine countries that have produced the most Ballon d'Or winners:

9. Spain (2)

Spain have produced two winners of the award, including Luis Suárez (the Spaniard) and Real Madrid legend, Alfredo Di Stefano, who was the second-ever winner.

8. Soviet Union (3)

The Soviet Union, officially known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), had three different winners of the award. Iconic goalkeeper, Lev Yashin picked up the prize, as did Oleg Blokhin and Igor Belanov.

7. Portugal (3)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of three different Portuguese players to have won the award. The others include Luis Figo and Eusebio, who played for Real Madrid and Benfica, respectively.

6. The Netherlands (3)

Former Dutch footballers, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten both won three Ballon d'Or awards during their illustrious football careers before Ruud Gullit came along later.

5. Brazil (4)

The South American nation is among the countries that have produced some of the most talented players. The country has won the Ballon d'Or four times, with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Kaka all making their mark.

4. England (4)

The country produced the first winner of the award in the shape of Stanley Matthews. Kevin Keegan won it back-to-back before Man United legend, Bobby Charlton won it after helping England win the 1966 World Cup. Michael Owen is the latest recipient of the prize from the country.

3. Italy (5)

Italy has had five different Ballon d'Or winners. Roberto Baggio, Gianni Rivera, Omar Sivori, Paolo Rossi, and Fabio Cannavaro are the Italians who have won the gong.

2. Germany (5)

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthaus, Matthias Sammer, Gerd Muller, and Franz Beckenbauer all won the Ballon d'Or during their impressive careers. Rummenigge won it on two occasions.

1. France (5)

Michel Platini, Karim Benzema, Zinedine Zindane, Jean-Pierre Papin, and Raymond Kopa make up the list of the Frenchmen who have picked the award. Platini bagged a hat-trick of them.