Ronaldo, Messi Dominate All-Time Ballon d’Or Nominations
The announcement of the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or has renewed attention on the players with the most nominations in the history of the prestigious award. Cristiano Ronaldo remains at the top of the all-time list with 18 nominations, while Lionel Messi has moved to 17 after being included among the contenders for the 2026 award. Ronaldo received his first nomination in 2005 and was last shortlisted in 2022, highlighting his consistency among the world’s leading players for almost two decades. Messi, meanwhile, has been a regular presence on the shortlist throughout his career and has converted those nominations into a record eight Ballon d’Or victories. AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini ranks third with 13 nominations, while Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Karim Benzema have each received 12. Zlatan Ibrahimović, Gianluigi Buffon, Zinédine Zidane, Michel Platini and Eusébio complete the top 11 with 11 nominations apiece. The rankings underline the remarkable longevity of some of football’s greatest players and their ability to remain among the game’s elite across different generations.
Despite Ronaldo holding the record for the most Ballon d’Or nominations, Messi has the better record when it comes to winning the award. The Argentine has claimed the Ballon d’Or eight times, compared with Ronaldo’s five victories. Messi and Ronaldo are the only players to have won the award more than once in the 21st century, further highlighting their dominance of the individual prize. They also became the first multiple winners of the award since Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazário, who won it in 1997 and 2002. With Messi now just one nomination behind Ronaldo, the 2026 shortlist adds another chapter to the long-running comparison between the two football icons. While Ronaldo continues to lead the nominations chart, Messi’s eight victories give him the strongest record in terms of Ballon d’Or wins.
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