5 countries with the most Ballon d'Or wins in history 

#3 Portugal - 7

Cristiano Ronaldo alone constitutes five of Portugal's seven Ballon d'Or awards.

Portugal have never been a 'big side' in world football until recently, but have been producing some world-beaters for generations.

Eusebio was the first true Portuguese superstar, making the world take notice of him in the 1960s. So it's not surprising that he was the first player from his country to win the Ballon d'Or award.

The Selecao had to wait a good 35 years for their next Ballon d'Or winner when Luis Figo joined the legendary striker won the award in 2000. Since then, it's been all Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo has now played 1,000 first-team games for club & country, scoring 725 goals and winning six league titles, five Champions League trophies, five Ballon d'Ors and Portugal's first international honours.A truly remarkable football career. pic.twitter.com/rTJ9KWmbcY

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 8, 2020

Widely considered the greatest Portuguese player ever, he has won the Ballon d'Or award five times in his illustrious career. He has also had the most Ballon d'Or nominations from his country, with 12.

The current Portugal squad is replete with several talented young guns. So it wouldn't be surprising to see another player from the country holding aloft the Ballon d'Or award in the near future.

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#2 The Netherlands - 7

Johan Cryuff was the first Dutch player to win the Ballon d'Or award.

The Netherlands have never been serial winners on the world stage like Brazil, Italy or Germany, but still rank high in terms of Ballon d'Or wins in history.

That's because the country has produced some of the most talented stars ever seen, such as Johan Cryuff, who was the first Dutch winner of the Ballon d'Or award in 1971 before he picked up two more in 1973 and 1974.

@HancockJarred wonder who sponsored Cruyff 1971 Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cryuff pic.twitter.com/76uITkgO8s

— Aussie Hec (@mrworldwide67) March 3, 2014

Former AC Milan legend Ruud Gullit was the next Dutch player to win the Ballon d'Or award, doing so in 1987 after helping PSV Eindhoven to the Dutch Eredivisie title.

Marco van Basten followed suit in the late 80s with wins in 1988 and 1989, before bagging a third in 1993. That makes the Netherlands the only country to have multiple players with three Ballon d'Or wins.

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#1 Germany - 7

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is the first and only German player to win the Ballon d'Or award in consecutive years.

Matthias Sammer was the last German player to win the Ballon d'Or award, which was way back in 1996. Yet here we are, with Die Mannschaft having the most representations on this list (5) and the joint-most number of Ballon d'Or wins in history.

Gerd Muller first put Die Mannschaft on the Ballon d'Or map with his success in 1970 before Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rumminegge bagged two each in the next few years.

Gerd Müller.Ballon d’Or 1970. pic.twitter.com/JAs3LMd0yu

— Olympia (@olympia_vintage) December 3, 2018

In 1990, Lothar Matthaus won the award after guiding Germany to glory at the FIFA World Cup.

Legendary goalkeepers Olivier Kahn (twice) and Manuel Neuer both finished third in the Ballon d'Or nominations.