Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to renew their historic rivalry as football fans vote to determine the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in the award’s 70-year history.

The special honour, known as the Ballon d’Or Of All Time (B.O.A.T), has been introduced to mark the anniversary of the prestigious individual football award, first presented in 1956.

Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or, which recognises a player’s performances over a particular season, the new award asks supporters to select the most outstanding winning campaign among football’s celebrated greats.

Messi, who holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or titles, has eight winning seasons on the shortlist, while Ronaldo, a five-time winner, has five nominations.

The nominees also include several iconic figures from earlier generations, including Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Ronaldo Nazário.


The shortlist features 10 multiple-time Ballon d’Or winners, with each represented by the years in which they claimed the award.

The nominees and their respective winning years are:

– Lionel Messi: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
– Cristiano Ronaldo: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
– Johan Cruyff: 1971, 1973 and 1974.
– Michel Platini: 1983, 1984 and 1985.
– Marco van Basten: 1988, 1989 and 1992.
– Ronaldo Nazário: 1997 and 2002.
– Franz Beckenbauer: 1972 and 1976.
– Alfredo Di Stéfano: 1957 and 1959.
– Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: 1980 and 1981.
– Kevin Keegan: 1978 and 1979.

The selection brings together different eras of football, allowing fans to compare individual achievements across generations.

Messi’s nominations span his dominant years at Barcelona and his later international success, while Ronaldo’s include campaigns during his time at Manchester United and Real Madrid.


According to the published announcement, fans can vote for their preferred winning season, with each vote costing €1.

Voting is scheduled to close at midnight on October 27, while the results are expected to be announced on October 28.

The main Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium in London, as the award marks seven decades of recognising individual excellence in football.

The new B.O.A.T category adds another chapter to the long-running debate over football’s greatest players, with Messi and Ronaldo once again sharing the spotlight alongside legends whose achievements helped shape the sport’s history.