Argentina leads Brazil 11–5 in Ballon d'Or titles as Messi dominates South American football

Key points

• Argentina has eight official men's Ballon d'Or titles, all won by Messi.
• Brazil has five titles, won by Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaká.
• Argentina's total rises to 11 when Argentine-born winners representing other countries are included.

Argentina and Brazil have dominated South America's history in the Ballon d'Or, football's prestigious individual award, but their totals tell different stories.

According to the figures presented by The World in Maps, Argentine players have won 11 titles, compared with five for Brazil.

Messi accounts for eight of Argentina's victories, winning the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. His record places him ahead of every other player in the award's history.

Brazil's five titles have come from three players. Ronaldo Nazário won twice, in 1997 and 2002, while Rivaldo claimed the award in 1999 and Ronaldinho in 2005. Kaká was Brazil's most recent winner, in 2007.

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However, the infographic's total of 11 Argentine titles includes three awards won by Argentine-born players who represented European countries.

Alfredo Di Stéfano won twice, in 1957 and 1959, representing Spain, while Omar Sívori won in 1961 as an Italian international.

Under the official nationality-based records, Argentina has eight titles, all won by Messi, while Brazil has five.

The difference also reflects the award's history. Until 1995, only European players were eligible to win the Ballon d'Or. The rules were later expanded, allowing footballers from other continents to compete.

Brazil's Ronaldo became the country's first winner in 1997, two years after the eligibility change.

The latest men's award went to England's Harry Kane on October 26, 2026, leaving Argentina and Brazil's totals unchanged.