Top 10 footballers with most Ballon d'Or top three finishes in 21st century

Lionel Messi has won the most Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or is, without question, the most prestigious individual prize in the world of football. The award has been won by some of the greatest names in the sport and has established the status of football's most legendary exponents. France football honours individuals with this award after voting from journalists as well.

Football has seen some incredible players play the sport over the years. They have won this award multiple times while winning it once is a major achievement in itself. England's Stanley Mathews was the first recipient of this award in 1956. The award has been held every single year since 1956 except in 2021 due to Covid.

Without further ado, let's take a look at a list of players with the highest numbers of appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three in the 21st century:

Lionel Messi - 13

Lionel Messi is the most successful player in Ballon d'Or history and has won the award a record seven times during his career. A prolific goalscorer, Messi is known for his finishing, positioning, quick reactions, and ability to make attacking runs to beat the defensive line. He also functions in a playmaking role, courtesy of his vision and range of passing. He has often been described as a magician; a conjurer, creating goals and opportunities where seemingly none exist.

Ballon d'Or wins in (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022). Ballon d'Or runner-up (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). Lionel Messi has been a regular contender for the prize for well over a decade. The talismanic player still has a few years left in him at the top and could potentially set an unattainable Ballon d'Or record by the end of his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 12

Ronaldo has managed an astonishing 12 appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three and has worked incredibly hard to sustain one of the most exhilarating rivalries in sporting history. A versatile attacker, Ronaldo is capable of playing on either wing as well as through the centre of the pitch, and, while ostensibly right-footed, is very strong with both feet. His strength and jumping ability, combined with his elevation, heading accuracy and height give him an edge in winning aerial duels.

These attributes allow him to function as a target man and make him an aerial goal threat in the penalty area; consequently, many of his goals have been headers. He bagged the award first time in 2008 and has won it four more times since (2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017). Ronaldo was a Manchester United player when he won his first Ballon d'Or. He has also placed second six times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018) and once in third (2019).

Xavi - 3

Xavi is widely considered one of the best midfielders of all time, relying largely on his ability to find and exploit space as a deep-lying playmaker. Although he was not known for his tackling ability, or for being prolific in front of goal, Xavi's outstanding vision, pinpoint accurate passing, excellent off-the-ball movement, superb reading of the game, positional sense, and world-class ball control allowed him to create chances for teammates and dictate the flow of play in midfield, while rarely relinquishing possession.

Xavi came third in the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, followed by third place for its successor award, the FIFA Ballon d'Or, in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was runner-up to Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. Xavi was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award in 2012. He was awarded the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker award four times, all straight between 2008 and 2011.

Neymar - 2

Neymar primarily plays as either a central striker, second striker, winger or occasionally as an attacking midfielder and has been described as "a true phenomenon". Neymar's dribbling skills, tricks and playmaking ability have been described as reminiscent of compatriot Ronaldinho. His main traits are his creativity, vision, passing, finishing, dribbling, feints, touch, and technique, being described as both "electric" and "explosive".

Neymar finished third for the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2015 and 2017, has been awarded the FIFA Puskás Award, has been named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI twice, and the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season three times. Off the pitch, he ranks among the world's most prominent sportsmen.

Andres Iniesta - 2

A product of the club's famed youth academy, La Masia, Iniesta rose through the ranks to become one of the best players to have graced the game. Widely considered one of the best midfielders ever, Iniesta spent 16 long seasons at Barcelona, winning a jaw-dropping 30 major trophies, including nine La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies.

He was a significant part of the teams that won the trebles in 2009 and 2015. Iniesta is also one of the most decorated Spanish players of all time, winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup and two UEFA European Championships (2008 and 2012) with Spain. In 2010, he finished behind his Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi. In 2012, he finished behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Andriy Shevchenko - 2

A fast, hardworking, energetic, and well-rounded striker, Shevchenko was a prolific and highly opportunistic goalscorer, who was usually deployed as an out-and-out striker in a centre-forward role, although he was capable of operating anywhere along the front line.

A strong and physical striker with an eye for goal, he was primarily known for his excellent positional sense, movement off the ball, and finishing ability inside the box, as well as his composure in front of goal; moreover, he possessed a powerful and accurate shot with either foot, from both inside and outside the area. Although he was not known to take part in aerial duels frequently, he was also good in the air, due to his heading ability. In 2004 he won his first-ever Ballon d'Or.

Antoine Griezmann - 2

A quick, modern, and versatile left-footed forward, with an eye for goal, Griezmann has been described as a "team player", and is capable of occupying several offensive positions in or behind the main attacking line, due to his technical skills, vision, ability to drop deep and link-up play between the forwards and midfielders.

He has been deployed as a main striker, in a central role as an attacking midfielder, as a second striker, as a false 9, or as a winger, on either flank. After an amazing performance in the 2018 World Cup, he finished third in the Ballon d'Or ranking just behind Luka Modric and Ronaldo.

Olivier Kahn - 2

Regarded as one of the greatest and most successful goalkeepers of all time, in addition to his goalkeeping technique, agility, reflexes, distribution, command of his area, and shot-stopping abilities, Kahn is widely admired for the stamina, mental strength, and composure he showed to overcome the stresses and pressures of his career. Kahn was known for his eccentricity and charismatic leadership from the back, which often saw him call out his defenders whenever they made errors. He was named German Footballer of the Year in 2000 and 2001 and ranked third in the Ballon d'Or standings in 2001 and 2002.

Ronaldinho - 2

Ronaldinho is regarded as one of the greatest and most skilful players of all time. Due to his ability to score and create goals, he was capable of playing in several offensive positions, on either wing or in a free central role. Despite primarily being a creative player, who was renowned for his passing, vision, and playmaking ability, Ronaldinho was an accurate finisher with either foot, both from inside and outside the penalty area, as well as being a free-kick and penalty-kick specialist. In 2005 he won his first and only Ballon d'Or trophy when he was playing for FC Barcelona.

Thierry Henry - 2

It's almost criminal that Thierry Henry never won the Ballon d'Or award. A striker for the ages, Henry still remains Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer. The Frenchman moved to Arsenal in 1999 and went on to become one of the best forwards the Premier League has ever seen.

Although he went on to play for Barcelona, Henry's best years were arguably at Arsenal. Given his versatility in being able to operate as both a winger and a striker, the Frenchman is not a prototypical "out-and-out striker", but he has emerged consistently as one of Europe's most prolific strikers. He came close to winning the Ballon d'Or twice during his stint at Arsenal. In 2003, he finished behind Pavel Nedved and in 2006, he finished behind Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon.