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How Many FIFA World Cup Champions Have Won the Ballon d’Or as Lionel Messi Eyes His 8th?

Published 10/24/2023, 12:19 AM EDT

In soccer, no individual accolade comes close to the Ballon d’Or. And no team award touches the FIFA World Cup. In history, there are only nine such players to have the privilege of lifting both trophies. With Lionel Messi winning the World Cup in Qatar and the strong rumors of a historic 8th Ballon d’Or in the bag, who are the other eight on the list?

The best soccer players to grace the pitch

1. Sir Bobby Charlton

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Sir Bobby Charlton was a former Manchester United legend. He was a Red Devil in and out, being brought up in the city of Manchester. One of the greatest players to grace the pitch, Bobby Charlton won the World Cup in 1966 and went on to win the Ballon d’Or in the same year. He also won the Champions League in 1968.

2. Gerd Muller

The face of German soccer in the 1900s, Gerd Muller, is one of the best players the game has ever witnessed. A former Bayern Munich player, Gerd Muller won the Ballon d’Or in 1970 and went on to win the World Cup 4 years later in 1974. Among his accomplishments are four European Championship trophies. Gerd Muller passed away on 15th August 2021.

3. Franz Beckenbauer

Germany’s reign in soccer lasted for a long time. The country produced another talented soccer star, Franz Beckenbauer in 1945. A former Bayern Munich player, Beckenbauer won the World Cup in 1974. The German international won the Ballon d’Or two times in 1972 and 1976. One of the most talented players in history, Beckenbauer won the Champions League for three consecutive years in 1974, 1975, and 1976.

4. Paolo Rossi

The Italians were known for their out-and-out defensive tactics but along came a forward who changed the game. Paolo Rossi won the World Cup in 1982 and went on to win the Ballon d’Or in the same year. The Italian ace won the Champions League a well in 1985 with Juventus.

5. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane was a world-class French talent, affectionately known as Zizou. Zidane won the World Cup with France in 1998 and also won the Ballon d’Or in the same year too. Zizou was as good a manager as a soccer player. He won three consecutive UCL trophies with Real Madrid before taking a break from managing. He is still hailed by multiple soccer stars as their childhood idol.

6. Rivaldo

Brazil has been known to produce exceptional talents. One name among the star players was Rivaldo. A former Barcelona player, Rivaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 1999 and won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. He ended his career winning the Champions League with AC Milan in 2003.

7. Ronaldinho

A star face of Brazilian soccer, Ronaldinho won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and went on to win the Ballon d’Or in 2005. The Brazilian was famous for his dribbling skills and exceptional talent with the ball.

8. Kaka

Ricardo de Kaka attained prominence with AC Milan, where he was praised for his talented footwork and skills. Kaka won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and went on to win the Ballon d’Or in 2007. He also won the 2007 Champions League with Real Madrid.

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Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or will complete his soccer journey. But does he deserve it as Erling Haaland matches to be a worthy competitor?

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Lionel Messi is close to winning No. 8!

Lionel Messi has had an amazing year with the Argentine national team. The soccer veteran won the World Cup with Argentina bagging the only trophy left for him. He was named the Best Player of the Tournament and also won the MVP award in the final against France. Passing everyone’s mission and expectations with the best ranks.

After clinching the World Cup, Messi’s contention for the Ballon d’Or is strong and intensified. If Lionel Messi wins the award, he’ll be picking up his 8th Ballon d’Or at the age of 36! Erling Haaland is the second favorite and a worthy contender for the award. It will be exciting to see who wins the award. It will all unfold on October 30, 2023.

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Written by:

Neil Banerjee is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. With a background in media studies, he possesses a deep appreciation for the intricacies, the strategies and the awe-inspiring nature of the beautiful game, firmly believing that a variety of factors underpin each match. As a devoted Chelsea fan, Neil's passion extends to diving into the stories that surround the club and finding intriguing narratives.

Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz

How Many FIFA World Cup Champions Have Won the Ballon d’Or as Lionel Messi Eyes His 8th?

The best soccer players to grace the pitch

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Lionel Messi is close to winning No. 8!