Lionel Messi may have the most Ballon d’Ors (eight) following Monday, but for now Pele is equal with the Argentine, according to France Football. Lionel Messi is highly expected to win the Ballon d’Or in 2023. Thus, for the seventh time, during a ceremony in Paris on Monday.
The projected victory comes after Argentina’s star pushed his team to their first World Cup victory since 1986 in December in Qatar. But, for the time being, Messi has won seven Ballon d’Ors in three decades, two more than his nearest opponent Cristiano Ronaldo. However, France Football alleged in 2016 that someone else – Brazil superstar Pele – is also on seven awards.
Until 1995, only European players were eligible for the Ballon d’Or. France Football modified the rule and expanded the award to really celebrate the finest in the globe. The newspaper then conducted a “international re-evaluation” in 2016 to determine who should have won the Ballon d’Or if it had always been worldwide.
They retroactively awarded Pele seven for 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, and 1970. They only did this when a non-European player deserved to win the tournament. In turn, Diego Maradona received two trophies, and Romario, Mario Kempes, and Garrincha joined Pele on the list of honorary winners.
France Football even created a magazine cover of Pele holding his seven medals with the caption “Pele 7 Ballon d’Ors.” Pele is recognised as one of the greatest players of all time, having scored 77 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil and winning three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970. Despite never formally winning one, Pele received an honorary Ballon d’Or in 2014 for his outstanding contributions to football.
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