CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Lionel Messi with seven awards has won the most Ballons d’Or in history. George Weah was the first non-European and first African national team player to win the award. Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper to win the award. Franz Beckenbauer is the only defender to win the award twice.

Detailed explanation-2: -Ronaldo does boast more of FIFA’s new ‘The Best’ awards and has been crowned UEFA Player of the Year on more occasions, but Messi has won more league Player of the Year accolades.

Detailed explanation-3: -It was first awarded in 1956. The most recent winner was Real Madrid’s Karim Benzemais in 2022. Messi has won the men’s Ballon d’Or award a record seven times, Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award five times.

Detailed explanation-4: -Real Madrid, the most successful club in Europe, have enjoyed a whopping eight Ballon d’Or wins in the 21st century, more than any other club in the world. Impressively, they have had five unique winners over that stretch. Brazilian legend Ronaldo was the first Real Madrid player to win the accolade in 2002.