REUTERS/ Albert Gea
The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in world football, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane scooping the honour.
Since the award's inception in 1956, a total of 47 men have received the Golden Ball as a result of being the best player in the world for the year. Messi and Ronaldo are the two most decorated in Ballon d'Or history, having won it eight and five times, respectively.
Six British players, including Michael Owen and the late George Best, have also received the award. But who is the ultimate Ballon d'Or winner? Well, that's what an ongoing fan vote is trying to figure out.
What is the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time'?
REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
The official Ballon d'Or website has set up a poll for fans to vote for their favourite winner in history. It's being called the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time'.
There are 10 nominees, with each of their Ballon d'Or-winning years included. For example, Messi has eight entries (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023).
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Messi and Ronaldo are joined on the list of nominees by Ronaldo Nazario, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Franz Beckenbauer, Alfredo Di Stefano and Kevin Keegan.
Each vote costs €1 and the results will be shared on October 28. However, we won't have to wait that long to know the winner.
A Horizontal Bar Chart Depicting Nationality of Ballon d'Or 2026 Nominees Including Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil,
Lionel Messi Overshadowed in Ballon d'Or Voting
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Messi, at the age of 39, might be in contention to add an unbelievable ninth Ballon d'Or to his career tally in 2026, but the Argentina superstar faces an uphill battle to win this vote.
While in the process of breaking the record for the most goals in a calendar year (91), Messi was deserving of the 2012 Ballon d'Or. That success is currently voted as his best year, but is only second in the poll by a long way.
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Messi and long-term rival Ronaldo are the only men to have more than 1% of the vote for individual entries. R9, Van Basten, Cruyff and all the others involved have been blown out of the water by two of the greatest two to ever grace the game.
But Messi looks like he'll have to settle for a silver medal this time as Ronaldo's first-ever Ballon d'Or, which he won as a Manchester United player in 2008, has so far received 75% of the votes. That leaves Messi's 2012 effort at 9%, Ronaldo's 2017 award at 6% and the rest miles off contention.
Key Events Timeline
September 2026 — France Football unveiled its 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlists across every category.
October 2026 — Ballon d'Or organisers named 10 nominees for the new 'Ballon d'Or of All Time'.
October 2026 — Public voting opened at €1 per vote, with results due October 28.
October 2026 — Organisers revealed Cristiano Ronaldo was leading the fan poll.