You’d think “eight” is simple, but fans love to argue semantics. Some count all his Golden Balls—including the 2014 World Cup Golden Ball. That brings the tally to nine. Want to get really crazy? He also has three European Golden Shoes (for top scorer in Europe). So if you’re talking about literally any golden ball-shaped trophy, the number explodes like a pinata in a candy shop.
Leo Messi wins Ballon d’Or number six
But for the actual, real, official Ballon d’Or—the one that smells like rich leather and French smugness—it’s eight. Period. End of story. If someone tries to tell you it’s nine, ask them if they also count World Series rings from little league. They’ll either laugh or start a heated debate about the 2010 vote, at which point you can quietly order another round and escape.
The Real Question: Is This a Good Thing?
Honestly? Having eight Golden Balls is absurd. It’s like one person owning eight Ferraris and still complaining about traffic. Messi doesn’t even display them all in his house—reportedly, some are in a bank vault, which suggests he’s either humble or scared of burglars with high ambitions. Imagine the insurance premium: $10 million per ball, times eight, equals roughly your entire country’s GDP.
And yet, here’s the funniest part: Messi probably doesn’t care about the count as much as fans do. He once said winning the World Cup meant more than any Ballon d’Or. That’s like a billionaire saying, “The yacht is nice, but the houseboat? That’s real.” But for us mere mortals, we’ll keep obsessing. Because when you’ve seen a little guy from Rosario collect eight golden orbs like they’re Pokémon, you can’t stop gawking.
So the next time someone asks, “How many Golden Balls does Messi have?” just lean in, smile, and say: Eight official, one honorary (World Cup), and about a million heartfelt ones from every fan who’s ever watched him dance through a defense. Then raise your glass. You’ve earned it after all that counting.
