All-time Ballon d'Or nominees: Messi, Ronaldo among 10 legends
In brief
The 10 nominees for the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time' (B.O.A.T), a special award marking the prize's 70th year, were announced on 20 October 2026. Every nominee is a multiple Ballon d'Or winner, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini. The fan vote closes on 27 October.
The shortlist for the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time', a one-off award created for the prize's 70th anniversary, was published on 20 October 2026. Ten players are in the running for the award, known as the B.O.A.T: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Kevin Keegan. Only multiple winners of the award were eligible.
The Ballon d'Or was first handed out in 1956, which makes 2026 its 70th year. According to Mundo Deportivo, the vote was launched by France Football, which owns the award, and each Ballon d'Or a player won is listed as a separate entry. In practice, fans are choosing the best single Ballon d'Or-winning season ever rather than simply picking a player.
Who are the all-time Ballon d'Or nominees?
All 10 players on the shortlist have lifted the trophy more than once. The nominees and the national teams they represented, as listed by Tribal Football and Sözcü, are:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
- Michel Platini (France)
- Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil)
- Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
- Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany)
- Kevin Keegan (England)
Messi has the most wins on the list with 8, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 5. Cruyff, Platini and Van Basten won it 3 times each, and the other five nominees won it twice. Players who won the Ballon d'Or only once did not make the list.
How do Messi and Ronaldo compare by the numbers?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two most talked-about nominees, have very similar career numbers. According to ScoreLab data, Ronaldo has scored 822 goals in 1070 club games and Messi 803 goals in 959. At international level, Ronaldo has 146 goals for Portugal and Messi 126 for Argentina.
| Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | |
|---|---|---|
| Ballon d'Or wins | 8 | 5 |
| Club career: apps / goals | 959 / 803 | 1070 / 822 |
| International: caps / goals | 208 / 126 | 234 / 146 |
| Champions League titles | 4 | 5 |
| 2026 season: apps / goals | 27 / 24 (MLS) | 7 / 4 (Saudi Pro League) |
Source: ScoreLab data; Ballon d'Or counts via Tribal Football. Season figures as of 20 October 2026.
No official interim results have been published. Spanish daily Marca reported that Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead of Messi in the fan vote; the organisers have not confirmed this.
When does voting close and when is the winner announced?
Voting for the Ballon d'Or of All Time closes at 23:59 Paris time on 27 October 2026. Turkish outlet Sözcü reported that each vote costs 1 euro. The result is expected on 28 October.
The all-time award is separate from this year's men's Ballon d'Or. The 2026 ceremony is set for 26 October at the London Palladium, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane seen as the favourites for that prize. Fan voting for the B.O.A.T ends the day after the ceremony.
- 20 October 2026 — All-time Ballon d'Or nominees announced
- 26 October 2026 — 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, London Palladium
- 27 October 2026 — Fan voting closes at 23:59 Paris time
- 28 October 2026 — Result expected
Sources
- 1.
- 2.Tribal FootballZack Oaten
- 3.Mundo DeportivoOriol Martínez
- 4.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the all-time Ballon d'Or nominees?
There are 10: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Kevin Keegan.
Who was eligible for the Ballon d'Or of All Time?
Only players who have won the Ballon d'Or more than once. One-time winners were left off the shortlist.
When does the all-time Ballon d'Or vote close?
Voting closes at 23:59 Paris time on 27 October 2026, and the result is expected on 28 October.
Which nominee has won the most Ballon d'Ors?
Lionel Messi, with 8. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with 5.
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This analysis was prepared by the ScoreLab Newsroom using the sources listed and ScoreLab data. Editorial policy