France Football Launches ‘Ballon d’Or Of All Time’ Vote – Messi, Ronaldo and Legends Battle for Iconic Season
What is the Ballon d’Or Of All Time?
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or in 2026, France Football has introduced a fresh competition that looks back at the award’s most memorable campaigns rather than simply naming the greatest player ever. Dubbed the Ballon d’Or Of All Time (B.O.A.T.), the poll asks fans to decide which single winning season should be crowned the ultimate Ballon d’Or performance in history.
How the voting works
The public can cast their votes on the official Ballon d’Or website until 23:59 CET on 27 October 2026. Each ballot costs €1 and supporters are free to submit as many votes as they wish, meaning the contest could see a high volume of entries. Every participant will receive a digital copy of a classic Ballon d’Or photograph and will be entered into a draw for two tickets to the 2027 ceremony.
The results will be revealed on 28 October, one day after the main 2026 awards ceremony that takes place at London’s Palladium on 26 October.
The shortlist – ten players, multiple seasons
Only players who have lifted the Ballon d’Or at least twice are eligible, which narrows the field to ten footballing greats. Because many of the nominees have won the prize several times, each individual season they captured the award is treated as a separate entry. This means that Lionel Messi, with eight triumphs, and Cristiano Ronaldo, with five, each have a handful of campaigns competing for the top spot.
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – eight winning years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 (represented by FC Barcelona and later clubs).
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – five winning years: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 (with Manchester United and Real Madrid).
- Michel Platini (France) – three wins: 1983, 1984, 1985.
- Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) – three wins: 1971, 1973, 1974.
- Marco van Basten (Netherlands) – three wins: 1988, 1989, 1992.
- Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain) – two wins: 1957, 1959.
- Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany) – two wins: 1972, 1976.
- Kevin Keegan (England) – two wins: 1978, 1979.
- Karl‑Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) – two wins: 1980, 1981.
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) – two wins: 1997, 2002.
Why some legends are missing
The eligibility criteria deliberately exclude players who have only one Ballon d’Or title. This rules out iconic one‑time winners such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and the Portuguese great Eusebio. The list also omits South American legends Pelé and Diego Maradona because, during the bulk of their careers, the Ballon d’Or was limited to European nationals. Consequently, the shortlist reflects the award’s own historical boundaries rather than a universal ranking of every football great.
The stakes for Messi and Ronaldo
Both Messi and Ronaldo dominate the nomination table, not only because they have the most trophies but also because each of their winning seasons will be judged individually. Their multiple entries could split the vote among supporters who favour a particular year—say, Messi’s record‑breaking 2012 season or Ronaldo’s 2014 campaign—potentially giving an advantage to a single‑season nominee with a more concentrated fan base.
Nevertheless, the presence of multiple entries from the two Argentinian and Portuguese superstars guarantees that the debate over who is the “greatest of all time” will stay front‑and‑center throughout the voting period.
What the winner will receive
The B.O.A.T. champion will be celebrated at a special ceremony following the main Ballon d’Or awards. While the prize itself has not been detailed beyond the public recognition, the winner will join an exclusive roll‑call of players whose individual seasons have already been immortalised by the sport’s most prestigious individual honour.
Final thoughts for fans
France Football’s new format adds a fresh layer of intrigue to the Ballon d’Or legacy. By focusing on specific seasons rather than careers, the competition invites supporters to revisit the moments that defined each era—whether it was Cruyff’s total football brilliance in the early ’70s, Platini’s dominance in the mid‑80s, or the modern duels between Messi and Ronaldo.
For anyone who follows the beautiful game, the Ballon d’Or Of All Time offers a chance to weigh in on history and help crown the single most iconic Ballon d’Or season ever recorded. Cast your vote before the deadline, and you might just be part of football folklore.
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