Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d’Or Wins: All 5 Awards Explained
Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards, in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. His first came with Manchester United and the next four with Real Madrid, making him the second-most successful men’s Ballon d’Or winner in history. The five victories also trace Ronaldo’s evolution from explosive winger to devastating all-round scorer and, eventually, one of football’s most efficient penalty-box forwards. For the complete historical picture, see TMJ’s complete Ballon d’Or winner list.
This archive breaks down every Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d’Or win, the major achievements behind each award, the years he won, how many came at each club and where his record sits in Ballon d’Or history.
How many Ballon d’Ors has Cristiano Ronaldo won? Ronaldo has won five: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. One came as a Manchester United player and four came while he represented Real Madrid.
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Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d’Or Years: All Five Wins
Ronaldo’s five awards span two clubs and almost a decade. The pattern is striking: his first Ballon d’Or followed Manchester United’s 2008 Premier League and Champions League double, while the four Real Madrid victories were driven by extraordinary scoring, repeated Champions League success and Portugal’s breakthrough at Euro 2016.
| Year | Club | Age | Why It Stood Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Manchester United | 23 | Premier League and Champions League winner; 42 goals in 2007/08 and European Golden Shoe. |
| 2013 | Real Madrid | 28 | 69 goals in 59 games for club and country, plus a decisive World Cup play-off hat-trick against Sweden. |
| 2014 | Real Madrid | 29 | La Décima, a record 17-goal Champions League campaign and another prolific year for club and country. |
| 2016 | Real Madrid | 31 | Champions League winner with Madrid and captain of Portugal’s first European Championship-winning squad. |
| 2017 | Real Madrid | 32 | La Liga and Champions League double, with Ronaldo again decisive in the European knockout rounds. |
How Ronaldo Won Each Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo did not win all five awards through the same formula. The balance between individual production, club trophies and international success changed from one victory to the next. That variation is what makes the sequence particularly revealing.
2008: Ronaldo’s First Ballon d’Or at Manchester United
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 after the defining season of his Manchester United career. He had developed from a highly skilled wide attacker into a prolific scorer capable of deciding matches from open play, set pieces and the air.
The 2007/08 season supplied the strongest possible case. Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions as United won both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. He also scored 31 league goals to claim the European Golden Shoe and found the net in the Champions League final against Chelsea.
France Football’s award confirmed the transformation. At 23, Ronaldo had gone from one of Europe’s most exciting young players to its leading individual star.
2013: The Five-Year Wait Ends
The 2013 Ballon d’Or was different because Ronaldo’s case was built primarily on overwhelming individual performance rather than a major team trophy. He scored 69 goals in 59 matches for Real Madrid and Portugal during the calendar year, an output that kept him at the centre of the award race.
His defining international moment came in Portugal’s World Cup play-off against Sweden. With qualification under pressure, Ronaldo scored all four Portuguese goals across the two legs, including a hat-trick in Stockholm. He also set a then-record of nine goals in the Champions League group stage.
Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi and Franck Ribéry despite Real Madrid not winning La Liga or the Champions League that year. It remains one of the clearest examples of the Ballon d’Or rewarding an exceptional individual campaign even without the season’s biggest club trophies.
2014: La Décima and Back-to-Back Ballon d’Or Wins
Ronaldo retained the award after helping Real Madrid finally win La Décima, the club’s long-awaited tenth European Cup. The Champions League run was also a personal scoring landmark: Ronaldo finished the campaign with a then-record 17 goals.
He scored in the 4-1 extra-time final victory over Atlético Madrid and remained prolific across the rest of the year. UEFA recorded 62 goals in 62 games for club and country across the 12 months considered around the award.
The 2014 triumph was Ronaldo’s third Ballon d’Or and his second consecutive win, putting him firmly back into the historic multi-winner tier.
2016: Champions League and Euro 2016 Glory
Ronaldo’s fourth Ballon d’Or was built on success at both club and international level. Real Madrid won the Champions League, with Ronaldo converting the decisive penalty in the final shootout against Atlético Madrid.
Weeks later, Portugal won Euro 2016 in France. Ronaldo captained the side, contributed three goals during the tournament and remained an influential presence after an injury forced him out of the final against France. Portugal’s victory was the country’s first major senior international title.
UEFA’s award report highlighted the Champions League and Euro double as the defining backdrop to Ronaldo finishing ahead of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. It was the year his Ballon d’Or story became inseparable from international success.
2017: Ronaldo Wins His Fifth Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo’s fifth award arrived during one of Real Madrid’s strongest modern seasons. The club won La Liga and the Champions League, becoming the first team in the Champions League era to retain the European title.
Ronaldo’s influence grew as the competition became more demanding. He scored decisive goals against Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid and Juventus during the knockout rounds and finished the Champions League campaign as its leading scorer.
When the 2017 Ballon d’Or was announced, Ronaldo moved to five awards. At that moment he had drawn level with Lionel Messi’s then-record total, a remarkable landmark in the rivalry that defined the era.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Who Has More Ballon d’Or Wins?
Lionel Messi holds the men’s record with eight Ballon d’Or wins, while Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five. Ronaldo’s victories came in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
For the direct head-to-head, see TMJ’s Messi vs Ronaldo Ballon d’Or comparison. For Messi’s award-by-award story, visit Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or wins.
What Ronaldo’s Five Ballon d’Or Wins Say About His Evolution
The five awards are useful because they capture different versions of Ronaldo. The 2008 winner was still a winger, capable of beating defenders, accelerating from deep and attacking from either side. By 2013 and 2014, his game had become more direct and more ruthless, with movement and finishing increasingly central to his influence.
The 2016 and 2017 awards came after another shift. Ronaldo conserved more of his work for decisive attacking zones, attacked the box with greater precision and became even more dangerous in knockout football. His Champions League scoring record during the Real Madrid era was not simply a product of volume. It reflected an elite ability to arrive where matches were decided.
Ronaldo’s five Ballon d’Or trophies tell the story of reinvention. The first rewarded an electric Manchester United winger. The final four belonged to a Real Madrid scorer who repeatedly reshaped his game around the demands of winning. The record sits behind Messi’s eight, but five awards across two clubs and multiple tactical identities remains one of the defining individual achievements of modern football.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or Wins
How many Ballon d’Ors does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards.
Which years did Cristiano Ronaldo win the Ballon d’Or?
Ronaldo won in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
How many Ballon d’Ors did Ronaldo win at Real Madrid?
Ronaldo won four Ballon d’Or awards as a Real Madrid player: 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Did Ronaldo win the Ballon d’Or at Manchester United?
Yes. Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 while playing for Manchester United.
How old was Ronaldo when he won his first Ballon d’Or?
Ronaldo was 23 when he won the 2008 Ballon d’Or.
When did Ronaldo win his last Ballon d’Or?
Ronaldo’s most recent Ballon d’Or came in 2017, when he was 32 and had just helped Real Madrid win La Liga and retain the Champions League.
Who has more Ballon d’Ors, Messi or Ronaldo?
Lionel Messi has eight men’s Ballon d’Or awards, while Cristiano Ronaldo has five.
Sources And Further Reading
Award years and major achievement context were checked against France Football’s Ballon d’Or archive and UEFA’s contemporary reports from Ronaldo’s winning seasons. Readers comparing the wider award history can also use TMJ’s Ballon d’Or winners archive.
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