ASTANA Nov 3: Cristiano Ronaldo’s victory in the 2026 Ballon d’Or of All Time fan vote has brought his rivalry with Lionel Messi back into focus, offering a fresh opportunity to compare their biggest individual awards and team trophies, Qazinform News Agency reports.Supporters chose Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or triumph ahead of Messi’s 2012 victory. The vote celebrated specific award-winning campaigns, with paid participation and repeat votes permitted. It does not count as another annual Ballon d’Or: Messi still leads that comparison eight to five.
The winning choice takes fans back to Ronaldo’s Manchester United years. He scored 42 goals in all competitions during the 2007-08 season, helping United win the Premier League and Champions League before collecting his first Ballon d’Or.That first award began a decade in which football’s most recognizable individual prize belonged to just two players.
From five each to Messi’s record eight
Between 2008 and 2017, every Ballon d’Or went to either Messi or Ronaldo.
After Ronaldo’s first victory, Messi won four consecutive editions from 2009 through 2012. Ronaldo then won four of the next five, drawing level at five awards each in 2017. For all their contrasting careers, the most familiar measure of individual recognition was perfectly balanced.
Luka Modric broke their hold on the award in 2018. Messi subsequently moved ahead with victories in 2019, 2021 and 2023, taking his record total to eight.
Their scoring awards tell another story of sustained competition. Messi won six European Golden Shoes to Ronaldo’s four. The prize rewards league goals through a points system that accounts for the league in which they are scored.
