10 Players Most Likely to Win the Super Ballon d’Or [Ranked]

The Ballon d’Or is one of – if not the – greatest accolades a footballer can get their hands on. Invented in 1956, it was originally designed to celebrate the best player in Europe, before expanding in 1995 to include stars from any nation playing for a European club. Once a year, the award is handed out to the very best player over the previous 12 months at a special gala that welcomes the biggest names from all football past and present.

While it’s an incredible accolade to win, imagine how much of a privilege it would be to win an award that labels you the undisputed number one footballer of your generation. That is exactly what the Super Ballon d’Or did in 1989, as Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano was crowned the best player of the previous 30 years, ahead of Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini.

With the 40-year anniversary of this award around the corner in 2029, we’ve ranked the top 10 most likely candidates to win the once in a lifetime prize for their performance over the last four decades.

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10

Xavi

Notable Clubs: Barcelona, Al-Sadd SC

A legendary figure in the middle of the pitch, Xavi was one of the defining faces in a dominant era for Spanish football. Whether it was the national team winning three major tournaments on the bounce, or Barcelona becoming unstoppable under Pep Guardiola, the future manager of the club was on hand to run the show every single time.

Xavi’s 767 appearances for the Catalan outfit puts him second of all time, the same place he ranks for assists. At times, the 45-year-old may have been overshadowed by other personnel next to him. Those who truly understand the beautiful game understand exactly how immaculate this man’s artistry was.

9

Luka Modric

Notable Clubs: Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham, Real Madrid, AC Milan

Luka Modric can consider himself the greatest ever Croatian player. Given the superb players they’ve had over the years, that is quite an accolade. His longevity and desire to remain at the top are evident in his 800+ club appearances over the last 24 years.

The midfield master has won six European titles with Real Madrid, but it was his performances for Croatia at the 2018 World Cup – in which his side finished as runners-up – that ended the Messi-Ronaldo dominance of the Ballon d’Or, when he was crowned the world’s best footballer in the same year to become the first to do so outside of the aforementioned duopoly in a decade.

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8

Gianluigi Buffon

Notable Clubs: Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain

Between the sticks, very few come close to touching the immortal Gianluigi Buffon. If things were fair and goalkeepers stood a greater chance of winning individual awards, perhaps the Italian stallion would be breaking through the glass ceiling and conquering even higher ground.

In terms of trophies, Buffon collected almost every single one available to him. The big one that evaded his safe hands was, of course, the Champions League. He remains among the biggest names to never lift the famous trophy, but don’t let that distract from the fact that he set many groundbreaking records and is more than deserving of featuring alongside such esteemed company. Staying at the top in any position is hard, let alone in a role that requires such reflexes and anticipation, yet Buffon defied the odds to stay on top for three decades.

7

Andres Iniesta

Notable Clubs: Barcelona, Vissel Kobe, Emirates Club

Partnering Xavi in the engine room for most of the famed Guardiola era at Camp Nou was Andres Iniesta. Every honour that fell the way of his counterpart also belongs to the 41-year-old. However, he has one or two other laurels that land him a couple of spots higher.

Firstly, Iniesta was recognised as the best player in Europe in 2012, overcoming some strong opposition in the process. His most famous moment, though, came in 2010 as he scored the goal to win La Roja their very first World Cup. If his impact on Spanish football somehow wasn’t written in the history books without that 116th minute strike, then that goal ensured that the playmaker would be seen as one of the greatest Spain internationals in history.

6

Paolo Maldini

Notable Clubs: AC Milan

When you look up the word longevity in the dictionary, you should get a picture of Paolo Maldini dominating Italian football. The legendary defender won an astonishing five European Cups and seven Serie A titles as he led AC Milan through multiple generations of talent.

A firm fan favourite and arguably the greatest player to have ever stepped foot in defence, Maldini is the second-most capped Italian outfield defender behind former Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro. And while it’s never actually been put to the test, Maldini so perfectly embodies the idea that Italian defending is more like a form of art than a sport. It’s genuinely debatable whether he could walk into a major final with a glass of wine in hand and not spill a single drop, such was his class and composure.

5

Ronaldinho

Notable Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan

In a parallel world where Ronaldinho’s light didn’t burn out so quickly, he could push towards the very top of this ranking. His peak was arguably more spectacular than anyone else’s over the last 40 years, with the Brazilian making football look as easy and as enjoyable as ever with his samba style and infectious smile.

A Ballon d’Or, Champions League and World Cup winner, Ronaldinho struggled to ever rediscover the heights of his form after the 2006 World Cup. He was eventually shunted out of Barca to make room for a certain Argentinian to blossom. Though that decision ultimately paid dividends, there can be no denying the natural talent this genius had in abundance, and every South American that has – and will – come after him will base some of their style on his trademark swagger.

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4

Ronaldo Nazario

Notable Clubs: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid

Phenomenal. The nickname given to this man tells the entire story. Never has a player of his build moved with such a combination of pace, power and grace. We are, of course, talking about Ronaldo Nazario.

At his peak, ‘R9’ was a freak of nature who left defenders in both awe and fear anytime they stepped up against him. Whilst domestic success was plentiful, his efforts in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup victory will stand the test of time. Not only was it an incredible tournament for Ronaldo, but it was also the perfect redemption story from 1998’s heartbreak. Injuries and weight issues took away years of what should’ve been an even more special career. A story of cherishing what you have whilst you’ve got it.

3

Zinedine Zidane

Notable Clubs: Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid

France is a nation of footballing greats. So to be the absolute pinnacle of what the two-time World Champions produced is no easy feat. Unless your name is Zinedine Zidane. Because then, it looks effortless.

When players approached the great midfielder, one of three things happened. They would bounce right of his incredibly strong frame. They would be turned inside out with an outstanding piece of skill. Or they would get headbutted in the World Cup final (Sorry, Marco Materazzi).

Weirdly though, the Materazzi incident only added to the aura of such an audacious individual, who routinely did things that didn’t seem possible. Having won everything there was to win in the game, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Zidane had walked away with the Super Ballon d’Or in any other era. Except for this one. And his three Champions League wins as a manager should play some role, too, though the award is limited to just players.

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2

Cristiano Ronaldo

Notable Clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus

A champion across three of the biggest leagues in European football. A leader of a nation’s first ever taste of international glory. The greatest player in Real Madrid history. All things that can be used to describe the icon that is Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet that is somehow not enough to be number one.

In a time when his greatest rival was seemingly the single greatest footballer to walk onto the pitch, the fact that Ronaldo was able to get the upper hand in so many different areas is a true testament to his own quality and mind-blowing dedication to the sport. He is the single greatest goalscorer the game has ever seen. However, only a World Cup triumph would potentially make him the lead contender to become the second recipient of the Super Ballon d’Or.

1

Lionel Messi

Notable Clubs: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami

Who else? Just list off Lionel Messi’s accomplishments, and you have your answer as to why this genius would be the clear favourite for this award. The most Ballon d’Or awards in history with eight. Twelve domestic league titles. Four Champions Leagues. Two Copa America titles. One World Cup. There are still so many different accomplishments that haven’t been named, the list goes on that long.

There are no superlatives that can describe this freak of nature. They have all been overused and worn out because moments of brilliance just come naturally to him. Should the Super Ballon d’Or make its return, there would be no more suitable winner than Lionel Messi.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – accurate as of 22/09/2025.