Football players are often judged by the trophies their clubs and countries win throughout their careers. Still, there’s something to be said for individual accolades being a more accurate representation of a player’s success. Football may be a team sport, but teammates have let down some of the greatest players of all time at various points.
That is why it’s important to consider the trophies a player has amassed based on their performances. A player can have an excellent season but still have no team prizes to show for it. Whether it’s a Golden Boot or a Ballon d’Or, all awards stack up to make unfathomable CVs. Just ask Vinicius Junior, who didn’t win the 2024 Ballon d’Or but was crowned FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year a few weeks later.
Ranking factors
While there may be some discrepancies surrounding what counts as an individual award, we felt it necessary to clarify the eligible personal accolades when ranking the players below. The prizes include the following:
- Ballon d’Or
- Super Ballon d’Or
- Top goalscorer for any major league
- Top goalscorer in continental competition
- International tournament top scorer
- International tournament goal contributions
- Any Player of the Year award (Domestic, continental or international)
Lionel Messi (53 awards): Regarded by many as the greatest football player of all time, Messi has amassed an incredible haul of individual honours, including eight Ballon d’Or awards, ten La Liga Best Player awards, and fourteen Argentina Player of the Year awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo (33 awards): A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo has consistently dominated the football world with his impressive skills and goal-scoring ability. His awards include multiple UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards.
Marco van Basten (20 awards): Despite retiring at 31 due to injury, Van Basten’s impressive career earned him numerous individual honours, including three Ballon d’Or awards, two European Golden Shoes, and four Eredivisie Top Scorer awards.
Ronaldo Nazario (18 awards): A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo’s impressive career has been marked by numerous individual awards, including three FIFA World Player of the Year awards, two Pichichi Trophies, and a FIFA World Cup Golden Boot award.
Gerd Muller (18 awards): Nicknamed “Der Bomber,” Muller is one of football’s most prolific goal scorers. His individual awards include a Ballon d’Or, two European Golden Shoes, and seven Bundesliga Top Scorer awards.
