Who is the best Ballon d'Or winner of the 21st century?

Era-defining icons, one-season wonders and a couple of winners people still argue about twenty years later. Who wore the crown best?

1

Lionel Messi

Eight Ballon d'Or wins between 2009 and 2023, the most in the award's history.

1000pts

2

Ronaldinho

The 2005 winner whose Barcelona peak made joy itself look like a tactic.

710pts

3

Pavel Nedvěd

The 2003 winner, Juventus's tireless Czech playmaker.

624pts

4

Fabio Cannavaro

The 2006 winner, the only defender to take the award this century.

560pts

5

Cristiano Ronaldo

Five-time winner between 2008 and 2017 across spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

560pts

6

Ronaldo Nazário

The 2002 winner, crowned after his redemption World Cup with Brazil.

485pts

7

Michael Owen

The 2001 winner, Liverpool's boy-wonder striker and the pick that still divides fans.

397pts

8

Luís Figo

The 2000 winner, fresh off the century's most controversial transfer.

291pts

9

Kaká

The 2007 winner, the last before the Messi–Ronaldo era began.

291pts

10

Andriy Shevchenko

The 2004 winner, AC Milan's lethal Ukrainian striker.

291pts

11

Luka Modrić

The 2018 winner who broke the decade-long Messi–Ronaldo duopoly after a World Cup final run.

162pts

12

Rodri

The 2024 winner, Manchester City's metronome and now a World Cup Golden Ball holder.

162pts

13

Karim Benzema

The 2022 winner after carrying Real Madrid to a Champions League with a historic scoring run.

162pts