If you’re a fan of football, you’re probably a diehard, and you’ve probably drooled over the various golden balls that have been awarded to the world’s best players over the years. But which players have won the most golden balls? Here are a few names.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is a Real Madrid midfielder who is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. He has won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and is a two-time Fifa Golden Ball winner.
The Golden Ball is a trophy awarded to the world’s top player and is presented in Paris. Several famous athletes have won this award over the years, including Diego Maradona, Paolo Rossi, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Lothar Matthaus.
It has been awarded for each of the past 10 World Cups and has been sponsored by the French sports magazine France Football. The Golden Ball is given to the most valuable player among the seven36 eligible candidates.
In Russia, Modric scored twice and won the Golden Ball. His performance also boosted Croatia’s chances of reaching the final. However, France defeated Croatia 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
He is the first Croatian to win the award. This is a notable achievement, as only Argentina can boast a pair of Golden Ball winners.
After winning the UEFA Midfielder of the Year award in 2017, Luka Modric was awarded the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2018. He helped Real Madrid to victory in the Club World Cup in 2017 and is a leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
With a record of five goals, six assists and 152 caps for his country, Modric is considered a key member of Croatia’s World Cup team. He is expected to captain the country in Qatar later this year.
During the World Cup, Modric was the anchor in the middle of the park, as Croatia’s attacking play was entrusted to him. He was key to three come-from-behind wins in the knockout stages. Despite losing to France in the final, he won the Golden Ball.
Modric also won the UEFA’s best midfielder prize and has been named the world’s best footballer by UEFA. Moreover, he has been named the best European footballer.
Whether or not he can retain the award, he is a worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or. His work on the pitch is always a pleasure to watch.
Lionel Messi
The FIFA World Cup Golden Ball award is given to the best player at the FIFA World Cup finals. It has been awarded since 1982 and is sponsored by German sportswear manufacturer adidas.
The winner is chosen from a shortlist compiled by the FIFA technical committee. A Silver Ball is given to the second best player and the Bronze Ball to the third.
In the final, Messi scored twice and provided an assist in a 2-0 win over France. He was also named player of the match in five of Argentina’s seven matches.
Messi had a hand in all of Argentina’s goals, besides the extra-time winner against Switzerland. His team also won penalty shootouts against Netherlands and France.
Lionel Messi became the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball two times. He won it in 2014 and 2022. He also has a record of seven Ballon d’Or awards.
He is the all-time leading goal scorer at the World Cup and was the top assist maker at the tournament. After his win, Messi’s name is now emblazoned in the history books of World Cups.
Messi has played for the Argentine national team for 26 years, a record which only a few have achieved. He has made five World Cup appearances. He is one of the greatest footballers in history. Now, he is the captain of the national team and will lead Argentina to the World Cup 2022.
Messi was able to clinch the trophy despite a disappointing opening game against Saudi Arabia. But it wasn’t enough. Mexico beat Argentina 1-0 in the next game and he missed two chances to score. Despite that, he still finished as the top goal scorer in the tournament.
He won the Golden Ball twice and the Silver Ball once. Despite his efforts, he will most likely never win the world’s top player award again. However, it was an incredible achievement for Messi to win the FIFA World Cup in his last tournament. This will be a fitting conclusion to an exceptional career.
If there was ever a doubt that Messi is the best player of all time, this final was proof that he is.
Diego Forlan
Diego Forlan was a Uruguayan football player. He was the most important player for the country of Uruguay. During his time in the national team, he won the Golden Ball award as the best player of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
During his career, he won a number of awards, including the Golden Boot and the Golden Shoe. In addition to his success on the pitch, he won the Pichichi Trophy as the leading scorer in La Liga during the 2004-2005 season.
He also won the Golden Ball for the World Cup and was named to the FIFA Team of the Tournament. At the World Cup, Diego Forlan scored five goals and helped the Uruguayan team to the semi-finals. After the tournament, he announced his retirement.
His most memorable moment during the World Cup came when he scored an acrobatic half-volley against the Netherlands. The shot landed over the head of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. Although the ball hit the underside of the crossbar, the official voted that goal as the most memorable of the tournament.
Diego Forlan was an integral part of Uruguay’s team that drew with South Africa and lost to Netherlands. He helped his team reach the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time in forty years. However, it was a different story in the final. Argentina suffered a 2-0 defeat against Germany, despite Zinedine Zidane’s heroics.
Diego Forlan was a talented athlete and a great ambassador for the country of Uruguay. As a youngster, he played for the Uruguayan national team and started his career at the youth level. Later, he won the Pichichi Trophy for the best player in La Liga.
Diego Forlan has played for a number of high-profile clubs, including Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Villarreal CF, and Cerezo Osaka. Despite his success in the professional arena, he has received some criticism from his fellow countrymen.
Diego Forlan was a great sportsman and always made time to talk to fans. He won the praise of his fans for his friendly and approachable personality.
Diego Forlan played his final match on August 19, 2019. He ended his career in the competitive world of football.
Ronaldo
The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in world football. It is awarded to a player who has played the most impressive game of the tournament. Some of the previous winners include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese football player who plays for Real Madrid. He has scored the most goals in Spanish history and has won several individual awards. Previously he was a member of the FC Barcelona team.
Since the 2002 World Cup, he has won three FIFA World Player of the Year awards. In addition, he has been nominated for the Golden Ball, which is given to the best player of the World Cup.
This award is sponsored by the German sportswear manufacturer adidas. The World Cup Golden Ball has been presented since 1982. Currently, Brazil has seven Golden Ball winners. Other winners include Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci, and Germany’s Thomas Muller.
Argentina has multiple Golden Ball winners, including Diego Maradona and Paulo Rossi. Lionel Messi has won the prize twice, in 2014 and 2022.
Zidane has won the Golden Ball twice. During the 2006 World Cup, he led his country to a runner-up finish. However, he was suspended for a key phase of the tournament.
Despite not having a particularly great tournament, Zidane was still considered the best player of 2006. After he was suspended for a few weeks, he was selected by the FIFA Technical Study Group. They created a shortlist of the best players in the world and voted on the winner.
Another Brazilian, Kaka, has also been a Golden Ball winner. He has scored more goals than any other player in a single World Cup.
France has had its share of Golden Ball winners. The country was considered the underdog in the 2006 World Cup. Although they were eliminated in the semifinal, they were good enough in the final to secure the prize. Xavi, the brain of the midfield, helped to ensure a creative threat in possession.
While the Ballon d’Or may be the most prestigious individual award in world football, the Golden Ball is the most coveted award in soccer. Several of the top players around the world hope to win it.