Five active Ballon d'Or winners have appeared in this World Cup, with mixed results.

In the first round of the World Cup Group L match, Croatia lost 2-4 to England, with Modric starting. This means that all five active Ballon d'Or winners participating in this World Cup have now made an appearance.

Rodri (2024 Ballon d'Or winner)

Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

Performance: Started and played 87 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 126 passes (116 successful), 3 key passes

Ousmane Dembele (2025 Ballon d'Or winner)

France 3-1 Senegal

Performance: Started and played 80 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 1 shot, 40 touches, 1 tackle

Messi (winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023)

Argentina 3-0 Algeria

Performance: Started and played 80 minutes, scored 3 goals, recorded 6 shots, 57 touches, and 37 passes (30 successful)

Ronaldo (winner of the 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Ballon d'Or)

Portugal 1-1 Democratic Republic of Congo

Performance: Started and completed the full match, 0 goals, 0 assists, 3 shots, 25 touches, 21 passes (19 successful)

Modric (the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner)

England 4-2 Croatia

Performance: Played 58 minutes as a starter, 0 goals, 0 assists, 33 touches, 27 passes (27 successful)