Reasoning:

• Lionel Messi has won a record 8 Ballon d'Or awards, the most of any player in history¹²³
• His victories span from 2009 to 2023: four consecutive wins (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), followed by additional wins in 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023¹
• He is the only player to have won the award in three different decades (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)¹
• Cristiano Ronaldo is second with 5 Ballon d'Or wins³²
• Messi is the only player to win the Ballon d'Or with three different clubs (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami)³

Overall validity: 100%

1. List of career achievements by Lionel Messi - Wikipedia
2. How Many Ballon d'Or Awards do Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Have?
3. Ballon d'Or - Wikipedia