One of the biggest surprises at this year’s Ballon d’Or gala was the introduction of the Best of All Time (BOAT) award. To no one’s surprise, the nominee pool was headlined by longtime rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with the Portuguese icon ultimately taking home the honors.
Still, the accolade warrants considerable skepticism. Unlike prestigious honors decided by media panels, players, or coaches, the BOAT winner was determined strictly by a pay-to-play fan vote. Through a dedicated online portal charging €1 per ballot, supporters essentially voted with their wallets to pick the ultimate winner among past Ballon d’Or recipients.
Eligibility was strictly limited to multi-time Ballon d’Or winners. That criterion handed Cristiano and Messi a massive built-in advantage over the field, given their respective five-and eight-trophy hauls, as each individual award won was voted on separately. For instance, a fan could vote for Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph (the BOAT winner), Messi’s historic 2012 campaign (BOAT runner-up), or any of their other winning seasons individually.
While the fan-funded prize provided a sideshow to Harry Kane lifting the main 2026 Ballon d’Or trophy, it was met with fierce backlash. Critics quickly slammed the pay-to-vote format as a blatant cash grab while panning the restrictive criteria that locked out numerous legendary single-time winners from soccer history.
Nominees for the BOAT award
The organizers opened the ballot to global supporters, inviting them to evaluate the most dominant individual seasons produced by multi-time award winners. Beyond simply selecting a player’s career as a whole, the format asked fans to vote on specific Ballon d’Or-winning campaigns, turning the contest into a direct historical comparison between football’s greatest individual peaks.
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These were the nominees:
- Lionel Messi 2023
- Lionel Messi 2021
- Lionel Messi 2019
- Cristiano Ronaldo 2017
- Cristiano Ronaldo 2016
- Lionel Messi 2015
- Cristiano Ronaldo 2014
- Cristiano Ronaldo 2013
- Lionel Messi 2012
- Lionel Messi 2011
- Lionel Messi 2010
- Lionel Messi 2009
- Cristiano Ronaldo 2008 (BOAT Winner)
- Ronaldo Nazario 2002
- Ronaldo Nazario 1997
- Marco van Basten 1992
- Marco van Basten 1989
- Marco van Basten 1988
- Michel Platini 1985
- Michel Platini 1984
- Michel Platini 1983
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1981
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1980
- Kevin Keegan 1979
- Kevin Keegan 1978
- Franz Beckenbauer 1976
- Johan Cruyff 1974
- Johan Cruyff 1973
- Franz Beckenbauer 1972
- Johan Cruyff 1971
- Alfredo Di Stefano 1959
- Alfredo Di Stefano 1957
Could the Super Ballon d’Or make a return?
On the heels of the controversial BOAT award, reports suggest France Football is weighing another historic honor—one that could heavily favor Messi. Rumors are circulating about the potential revival of the elusive Super Ballon d’Or to recognize the defining player of the modern era, with reports out of Argentina pointing to Messi as the overwhelming frontrunner.
Beyond his record eight Ballon d’Or trophies—more than Ronaldo or anyone else in history—Messi’s generational influence and all-around impact have cemented his legacy as a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
As France Football explores ways to formally salute the titans of this generation, the broader soccer landscape is left reckoning with the close of an unprecedented chapter, one defined by two generational rivals who pushed the sport to heights fans may never witness again.
Key takeaways
- Cristiano Ronaldo won the Best of All Time award with his 2008 Ballon d’Or award.
- The BOAT winner was determined by an online fan vote charging €1 per ballot.
- Harry Kane won the main 2026 Ballon d’Or trophy at the gala.
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