In Pics | Players with the most Ballon d’Or wins

Lionel Messi won the men's Ballon d'Or for a record-extending seventh time, ending the year in style after a brilliant final season with Barcelona and earning his first major international trophy with Argentina. While some of the most illustrious names in soccer’s long history only managed to win the Ballon d’Or once, here are a few soccer players who have claimed the trophy more than once:

In Pics | Players with the most Ballon d’Or wins

Lionel Messi is the only player in the history of the Ballon d’Or award to have won it for a record-extending seventh time. Credit: AP Photo

Cristiano Ronaldo is behind Messi on the list. He has five Ballon d’Or trophies in his kitty. Credit: AFP Photo

Johan Cruyff, the finest European player in history, has won it three times. Credit: Instagram/johancruyff

Marco Van Basten has also won the award thrice. Credit: Instagram/marcovanbasten

Michel Platini got the sport’s most prestigious individual prize three times. Credit: Instagram/michelplatinifan

Franz Beckenbauer has won the Ballon d’Or two times. Credit: Instagram/franzbeckenbauer

One of the greatest Brazilian footballers, Ronaldo was felicitated with Ballon d’Or twice. Credit: Twitter/PradeepKrish_m

Alfredo Di Stefano has won the sport’s most prestigious individual prize twice. Credit: Twitter/@realmadriden

Kevin Keegan has also received the award twice in his illustrious career. Credit: Twitter/@MotherSoccerNL

Karl Heinz-Rummenigge is another player who have been awarded the Ballon d’Or twice. Credit: Instagram/karlheinz_rummenigge