5 Players to have won the most Ballon d'Or awards

Michel Platini (3-time winner)

Michel Platini poses with one of Ballon d'Or trophies

Michel Platini arrived at Juventus in the summer of 1982. Following a difficult initiation to life in the Italian top-flight, Platini's 28 goals in all competitions led the Bianconeri to the European Cup final (lost to Hamburg) and the Coppa Italia title as the Frenchman won his first Ballon d'Or title that year.

The following season, Platini's 25 goals in all competitions led Juventus to the Serie A title and the Cup Winners Cup. The Frenchman's record 9 goals at Euro' 84 helped his national team win the European Championships as Platini became the first player since Cruyff to win the Ballon d'Or in successive years.

Platini won the 1984 European Super Cup, 1985 European Cup, and the 1985 European Cup as he finished the season as the Serie A top-scorer for the third-straight season. In the process, the Frenchman became the first player to win 3 consecutive Ballon d'Or titles and emulated Cruyff as the only player to win the prestigious award on 3 occasions.

Marco van Basten (3-time winner)

Marco van Basten poses with one of his Ballon d'Or trophies

Marco van Basten arrived at AC Milan from Ajax in the summer of 1987. Despite an ankle injury limiting the Dutchman to just 11 appearances in all competitions (7 in the Serie A), Milan won their first Scudetto in 8 years.

Van Basten scored 5 goals at the 1988 Euros in West Germany as the Netherlands won their first (and only) major international tournament. In the process, the Dutchman won his first Ballon d'Or title.

Bolstered by the arrival of fellow Dutchmen Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard in 1988-89, Van Basten scored 33 goals in all competitions, including 19 goals in the Serie A, but Milan failed to secure back-to-back league titles, finishing third, behind Juventus and Napoli. Van Basten's exploits during the season saw him win a second-consecutive Ballon d'Or in 1989.

In 1991-92, van Basten's 29 goals in all competitions, which included 25 goals in Serie A led an unbeaten Milan to the Scudetto title. Van Basten started the 1992-93 season on a tear, scoring 7 goals in wins over Pescara (5-4), Fiorentina (7-3), and Lazio (5-3).

The Dutchman then became the first (and till date the only player) to score 4 goals in his Champions League debut when he netted all 4 in Milan's 4-0 win over Swedish side Gothenburg as he won his third Ballon d'Or award in 92.