15 players most likely to win the Super Ballon d’Or

October 14, 2025 Kris Isaksen

The Super Ballon d'Or is football’s rarest individual prize – and it might finally make a comeback in 2029. First awarded to Alfredo Di Stefano in 1989, the mythical accolade recognises the greatest player of an entire generation. With speculation that it could return for the first time in 40 years, here are the 15 most likely footballers who could claim this once-in-a-lifetime honour.

15. Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe’s career is already the stuff of legend – a World Cup win at 19, back-to-back finals, and a record of scoring on the grandest stage. Now playing for Real Madrid, he continues to break records with his blistering speed and clinical finishing. If he adds a Ballon d’Or soon, the Super Ballon d'Or might not be far behind.

14. Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos redefined what it means to be a centre-back. With four Champions Leagues, a World Cup, and over 140 goals, he was a leader, a warrior, and a consistent threat in both boxes. His aggressive style was often controversial, but it built a legacy few defenders can match.

13. Kaka

Kaka remains one of the most elegant players to ever grace the pitch. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2007, a Champions League with AC Milan, and a World Cup with Brazil – joining a very exclusive club. At his peak, his pace and technique were simply unstoppable.

12. Karim Benzema

Benzema quietly built an outstanding career before exploding into stardom after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid. His 2021/22 season, crowned with a Ballon d’Or, showed just how complete and decisive a striker he truly is. Few players have aged as gracefully as the Frenchman.

11. Thierry Henry

Jose Breton- Pics Action / Shutterstock.com

Henry was the Premier League’s poet with a football – dazzling with pace, grace, and precision. Though he never won the Ballon d’Or, he was the heartbeat of Arsenal’s Invincibles and a World Cup and Euro champion with France. For many, he’s the greatest player to never officially be named the world’s best.

10. Xavi

Xavi Hernandez — Photo: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

Xavi was the silent genius who made one of the greatest teams in football history tick. The beating heart of both Barcelona and Spain during their golden years, he defined control, rhythm, and vision. His work often went unnoticed by the casual fan, but true students of the game know better.

9. Luka Modric

Luka Modrić — Fabrizio Andrea Bertani / Shutterstock.com

Modric was the first to break the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d'Or stranglehold in over a decade, thanks to his stunning World Cup run in 2018. His elegance on the ball and ability to dictate matches made him a midfield maestro at Real Madrid for nearly two decades. His football IQ is off the charts.

8. Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon may be the greatest goalkeeper of all time. He holds countless records, including most Serie A appearances and over 500 clean sheets. Although the Champions League eluded him, his longevity and consistency made him a rock for club and country.

7. Andres Iniesta

Andrés Iniesta — Alizada Studios / Shutterstock.com

Iniesta delivered when it mattered most – from scoring Spain’s first-ever World Cup-winning goal to dominating midfield battles in Champions League finals. With nine La Liga titles and a legacy built on class and creativity, he's forever etched in football history. Few players have ever made the game look so effortless.

6. Paolo Maldini

Maldini played top-level football for more than 20 years, winning five Champions Leagues with AC Milan. His defending was pure art – combining anticipation, timing, and composure. He’s the ultimate one-club legend, proving that loyalty and greatness can go hand in hand.

5. Ronaldinho

At his peak, Ronaldinho made football fun again – juggling brilliance and creativity like a street performer in front of millions. He won it all: a World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d'Or, but his flame burned out faster than fans would have liked. Still, his influence can be seen in countless players today.

4. Ronaldo Nazario

Ronaldo Nazário — Maxisport / Shutterstock.com

Nicknamed "El Fenómeno" for good reason, Ronaldo was a one-man wrecking crew in his prime. With two World Cups and two Ballon d’Or wins, his explosive pace and deadly finishing were unmatched. His career might’ve been even greater if not for injuries, but even as is, it's legendary.

3. Zinedine Zidane

Zidane was elegance and power rolled into one – capable of changing a match with a single touch. A World Cup winner, a Euro champion, and a Champions League hero, he defined footballing class in the late '90s and early 2000s. His unforgettable moments – and even his infamous headbutt – are etched in football folklore.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s obsession with greatness drove him to the very top – five Ballon d’Ors, five Champions Leagues, and success in England, Spain, and Italy. He’s the highest-scoring player in football history and the face of Portugal’s greatest footballing era. If anyone could challenge for the Super Ballon d'Or, it’s him.

1. Lionel Messi

There’s Lionel Messi – and then there’s everyone else. With eight Ballon d'Ors, four Champions League titles, and a long-awaited World Cup, Messi’s achievements stand alone. He turned impossible moments into routine highlights, and no player has made greatness look so natural for so long.