The nominees for the Ballon d’Or of All Time have been announced, with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and eight other football legends in contention for a special recognition of the greatest individual seasons in the award’s history.
The shortlist brings together some of the most decorated players ever to lift football’s most prestigious individual trophy, spanning generations of the game from Alfredo Di Stéfano to the modern-day rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo.
The announcement is set to reignite one of football’s biggest debates: which player produced the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season of all time?
Ballon d’Or of All Time: Full list of nominees
Ten former Ballon d’Or winners have been selected for the special B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time) contest.
The nominees are:
- Alfredo Di Stéfano
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Marco van Basten
- Johan Cruyff
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
- Michel Platini
- Ronaldo Nazário
- Kevin Keegan
- Franz Beckenbauer
The shortlist features an extraordinary collection of individual honours, with Messi holding the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins at eight, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five.
Cruyff, van Basten and Platini each won the award three times, while Di Stéfano, Rummenigge, Ronaldo Nazário, Keegan and Beckenbauer each claimed it twice.
The list spans different eras and playing styles, from Cruyff’s influence on the development of modern football to Ronaldo Nazário’s explosive attacking play and the sustained excellence of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Which player deserves to be crowned the greatest?
The B.O.A.T. contest focuses on individual Ballon d’Or-winning campaigns rather than simply asking supporters to choose their favourite player.
That makes the debate particularly interesting, with each nominee having a different case for recognition.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign stands out after he scored 42 goals in all competitions for Manchester United, helping the club win both the Premier League and Champions League. Messi’s remarkable 2012 calendar year, meanwhile, saw him score a record 91 goals for club and country.
Earlier generations have equally compelling cases. Cruyff won three Ballon d’Or awards during the 1970s, while Platini became the only player to win the trophy in three consecutive years, from 1983 to 1985.
Van Basten’s achievements with AC Milan and the Netherlands also cemented his place among the game’s greatest forwards, while Beckenbauer helped redefine the role of the sweeper.
There is no shortage of legendary candidates, but the final decision will ultimately come down to supporters choosing the season they believe stands above the rest.
Who would be your winner of the Ballon d’Or of All Time?
