Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the public vote to select the “Ballon d’Or of All Time,” holding a commanding lead over his rivals, including Lionel Messi, as voting remains open ahead of the final result announcement.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that the Portugal star is leading France Football‘s “B.O.A.T.” initiative, which allows fans to choose their favorite edition from the winning years of the award’s most prominent recipients.
According to figures cited by the newspaper, Ronaldo’s 2008 edition accounts for over 60% of the votes in the provisional results, while the official Ballon d’Or account posted an announcement stating: “Cristiano Ronaldo is leading.”
This prominence brings back into the spotlight the Portuguese star’s exceptional 2007-2008 season with Manchester United, when he scored 42 goals across all competitions and led the club to Premier League and UEFA Champions League triumphs before claiming his first Ballon d’Or.
Voting is restricted to players who have won the Ballon d’Or at least twice, including Messi, Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, and Ronaldo Nazário, with a separate entry dedicated to each year a player won, allowing fans to vote for a specific edition of their career.
This fan-driven initiative differs from the annual award decided by journalists’ votes, nor does it alter the official trophy count—Messi holds eight Ballons d’Or, compared to Ronaldo’s five, which he won in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Participation requires a fee of one euro per vote, with multiple votes permitted. Participants receive a digital collectible image and a chance to win two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony, meaning the reported percentages reflect paid votes rather than the sheer size of each player’s global fanbase.
Voting remains open until 11:59 PM Paris time on October 27, with the official results to be announced the following day. Ronaldo maintains his lead for now, though the title remains undecided until the voting window closes.
