We are here with the list of Every Real Madrid Ballon d'Or Winner in History. Kylian Mbappé arrived at Real Madrid with one major individual honour still missing from his glittering career: the Ballon d'Or. The French superstar has already established himself as one of football's most prolific goalscorers, but can he follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and become the next Madrid player to lift the prestigious trophy?
Real Madrid have a remarkable history with the award, as over a dozen players have won the prestigious award while playing for Los Blancos. With Mbappé now leading the club's attacking ambitions, let's explore every Real Madrid Ballon d'Or winner in history and examine his chances of joining this exclusive list.
Every Real Madrid Ballon d'Or Winner in History
Real Madrid have had eight different players win the men's Ballon d'Or while representing the club at the ceremony, accounting for 12 victories through the 2025 edition. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way with four wins, while Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ronaldo Nazário are among the other legendary recipients.
Here is the complete list of Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winners and their winning years.
1. Alfredo Di Stéfano – 1957, 1959
Alfredo Di Stéfano became Real Madrid's first Ballon d'Or winner, claiming the award in 1957 and 1959. The Argentine-born Spanish forward was instrumental in the club's dominance during the early European Cup era.
His versatility, intelligence and exceptional goalscoring ability helped Madrid win five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960. Di Stéfano remains one of the most influential players in the club's history.
2. Raymond Kopa – 1958
Raymond Kopa won the Ballon d'Or in 1958 after helping Real Madrid continue their dominance in European football. The French attacking midfielder brought creativity, close control and intelligent movement to the team's forward line.
Kopa won three consecutive European Cups with Madrid and formed part of a legendary attack alongside Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás.
3. Luís Figo – 2000
Luís Figo won the Ballon d'Or in 2000, becoming one of the defining stars of Real Madrid's Galácticos era.
However, there is an important detail behind this victory: Figo spent the majority of the award-winning season at Barcelona before completing his controversial transfer to Madrid in July 2000. His individual achievement therefore counts in Madrid's historical winner list, even though his performances that season largely came in a Barcelona shirt.
4. Ronaldo Nazário – 2002
Ronaldo Nazário secured his second Ballon d'Or in 2002, having previously won the award in 1997 while playing for Inter Milan.
His 2002 triumph followed an outstanding FIFA World Cup campaign, in which he scored eight goals to help Brazil win the tournament. He joined Real Madrid from Inter shortly before the award was presented, meaning the achievement is officially associated with Madrid despite his decisive performances coming elsewhere.
5. Fabio Cannavaro – 2006
Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d'Or in 2006 after captaining Italy to FIFA World Cup glory in Germany.
The commanding defender was outstanding throughout the tournament, helping Italy lift the trophy after defeating France in the final. Cannavaro joined Real Madrid from Juventus following the World Cup, making him another winner whose award-winning campaign largely took place before his Madrid career began.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid's most successful Ballon d'Or winner, claiming the award four times during his legendary spell at the Santiago Bernabéu.
His victories in 2013 and 2014 were followed by consecutive triumphs in 2016 and 2017. Ronaldo's extraordinary goalscoring record, Champions League success and ability to deliver in decisive matches established him as one of the greatest players in football history.
He remains the benchmark for any Madrid star hoping to win the award.
7. Luka Modrić – 2018
Luka Modrić ended the decade-long dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when he won the Ballon d'Or in 2018.
The Croatian midfielder helped Real Madrid secure their third consecutive Champions League title before leading Croatia to the World Cup final. His performances, tactical intelligence and influence in midfield earned him recognition as the world's best player that year.
8. Karim Benzema – 2022
Karim Benzema became Real Madrid's most recent Ballon d'Or winner when he claimed the award in 2022.
The French striker enjoyed a phenomenal season, scoring crucial goals as Madrid won both La Liga and the Champions League. His spectacular knockout-stage performances, including decisive contributions against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, made him the standout candidate for the honour.
Can Kylian Mbappé Become Real Madrid's Next Ballon d'Or Winner in 2026?
Kylian Mbappé has an opportunity to add his name to Real Madrid's illustrious Ballon d'Or history. The French forward enjoyed an impressive 2025-26 campaign, finishing as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and the Champions League's leading scorer with 15.
His performances also earned him a place among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Mbappé scored 10 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, winning the Golden Boot, although France were eliminated in the semi-finals.
However, the competition remains fierce, with Harry Kane & Lamine Yamal also in contention. Whether Mbappé wins will depend on how voters assess his individual performances and achievements against those of his rivals.
If he triumphs, Mbappé would become Real Madrid's ninth different men's Ballon d'Or winner and the first since Benzema in 2022.
Conclusion: Can Mbappé Follow Cristiano Ronaldo's Footsteps?
Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or history features eight different winners, with Cristiano Ronaldo's four victories setting the benchmark for future generations.
Mbappé now has the opportunity to join these legends and bring the prestigious individual award back to the Spanish capital. His goalscoring numbers and World Cup performances have strengthened his case, but the final decision remains with the voters.
Could Mbappé become the next Real Madrid superstar to claim football's most coveted individual prize?
Also Read |