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#3 Michel Platini (5 appearances)
The Ballon d'Or is generally reserved for the cream of the crop, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better European footballer in the 1980s than Michel Platini. The Frenchman might have endured a controversial administrative career but in the long run, his exceptional achievements as a player will hold him in good stead.
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Platini is tied with Beckenbauer and also has five appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three but has won one more award than the German legend. The French wizard was the driving force behind Juventus' success and was the first player ever to win three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards.
Michel Platini finished as the top scorer in the Serie A for three seasons and won three Scudettos and a European Cup with the Bianconeri. The Juventus star also won the European Championship with France in 1984 and is one of the most successful players in Ballon d'Or history.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (12 appearances)
As with most other statistical battles in football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in an elite league of their own. 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.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award on a total of five occasions and is only behind Lionel Messi in terms of Ballon d'Or success. The Portuguese talisman inspired Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League triumphs between 2016 and 2018 and won two of his five Ballon d'Ors in the process.
Ronaldo's fortunes have taken a hit since his move to Juventus. With the modern-day legend as fit as ever, however, it could only be a matter of time before Cristiano Ronaldo covers himself in glory at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
#1 Lionel Messi (12 appearances)
Lionel Messi is the most successful player in Ballon d'Or history and has won the award a record six times during his career. The Argentine talisman is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of appearances in the Ballon d'Or top three but has edged ahead of his rival in recent years.
The Barcelona captain has shattered goalscoring records throughout his career and has taken up several attacking roles for both club and country. Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a historic Copa America triumph and could potentially win his seventh Ballon d'Or this year.
With six Ballon d'Ors and an astonishing 12 appearances in the top three, Lionel Messi has been a regular contender for the prize for well over a decade. The talismanic false nine 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.
Also Read: Top 5 Ballon d'Or winners with the least points difference
