Cristiano Ronaldo edges Lionel Messi in a new award race at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. What is it all about?
The Portuguese star is ahead of his Argentine rival in a historic poll reigniting the debate over soccer’s greatest player. The final result will be announced on October 27.
The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has entered a new chapter off the pitch. A special vote linked to the Ballon d’Or has put the Portuguese forward ahead of the Argentine in the race to determine the greatest individual season in soccer history, reigniting the debate over who deserves to be called the greatest player of all time.
The initiative is part of the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. According to reports, the winner will be announced on October 27. Early results heavily favor Cristiano Ronaldo, although the voting remains open and the standings could still change.
CRISTIANO RONALDO LEADS THE SPECIAL VOTE
According to the partial results released on October 20, Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 62% of the vote for his 2008 season, when he won the Ballon d’Or after an outstanding campaign with Manchester United, capturing both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has received 13% of the votes for his 2012 season, when he set the record for most goals scored in a calendar year with 91. The Argentine also features with his 2023 campaign, which has collected 9% of the vote following his triumph with Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
At this stage, the gap between the two legends is substantial: Ronaldo’s 2008 season leads Messi’s 2012 campaign by 49 percentage points. However, these figures are provisional and do not represent the final outcome.
THE ETERNAL DEBATE OVER THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME
The poll has brought one of soccer’s most enduring discussions back into the spotlight: Who is the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?
Both have built extraordinary careers, but their strengths differ. Ronaldo is renowned for his goalscoring ability, physical power, aerial prowess and success across different leagues. Messi, meanwhile, has defined an era through his creativity, dribbling, vision and ability to create scoring opportunities, alongside his remarkable goalscoring records.
The initiative aims to identify the greatest individual season in history, rather than necessarily determine the most complete player of all time. The outcome will therefore depend partly on fans’ preferences for a particular campaign and how they evaluate each legend’s individual and team achievements.
BALLON D’OR HISTORY AND MESSI’S RECORD
The rivalry is also defined by the number of times each player has won the Ballon d’Or. Messi has claimed the award eight times, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times, leaving the Argentine as the most decorated player in the history of the individual honor.
This special vote, however, presents a different kind of competition. Rather than counting their overall trophy hauls, it seeks to determine which season by a Ballon d’Or winner deserves to be considered the greatest. Ronaldo is represented by his 2008 campaign, while Messi’s support is split between two of his most celebrated seasons.
The initiative also features other legendary players, including Alfredo Di Stéfano, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Ronaldo Nazário, Kevin Keegan and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Each left a lasting mark on the sport across different generations.
FINAL RESULT TO BE ANNOUNCED ON OCTOBER 27
The special vote is scheduled to close on October 27, when the winner is expected to be announced. According to reports, each vote costs one euro, and multiple votes are allowed, a factor worth considering when interpreting the provisional results.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s lead over Lionel Messi adds another layer of intrigue to a rivalry that has transcended clubs, national teams and generations. Although the outcome will not definitively settle the debate over the greatest soccer player in history, it will provide another snapshot of fans’ preferences.
For now, Ronaldo is out in front with his outstanding 2008 season, while Messi remains in contention with two of his most memorable campaigns. The final verdict will come when voting closes, once again demonstrating that the debate surrounding these two legends remains as fierce as ever.
CRISTIANO RONALDO TAKES THE LEAD OVER MESSI
- RONALDO LEADS THE VOTE: His 2008 season has received 62% of the votes, compared with Messi’s 13% for 2012.
- THE DEBATE OVER THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME: The poll reignites the rivalry between the two legends, whose careers and playing styles have differed.
- MESSI LEADS IN BALLON D’OR AWARDS: The Argentine has won the award eight times, compared with five for the Portuguese star. The final result of the special vote will be announced on October 27.
