Ballon d'Or Announces Special B.O.A.T Award For 70th Anniversary

Messi, Ronaldo lead nominees for Ballon d'Or of all time award

Organisers announce special Ballon d'Or Of All Time prize to mark 70 years since first award in 1956, with Messi and Ronaldo among nominees for greatest individual winning year.

Messi Vs Ronaldo as Ballon d'Or of all time award nominees revealed...

Messi and Ronaldo are set to go head-to-head for a new award honouring the greatest Ballon d'Or winner of all time.

The nominees for the Ballon d'Or Of All Time (B.O.A.T) have been unveiled ahead of the ceremony's 70th anniversary.

First presented in 1956, the Ballon d'Or will mark its 70th year in 2026 with a special honour to celebrate the milestone.

Organisers are inviting fans to vote for the greatest single Ballon d'Or-winning season of all time, with some of football's greatest ever players who have been named the world's best on more than one occasion in contention for the prize.

CRISTIANO RONALDO IS LEADING 🇵🇹🏁 You can still vote for your B.O.A.T. and try to win 2 tickets to the 2027 ceremony! 🌕 Choose your BALLON D'OR OF ALL TIME among the players who have won the award multiple times. ✨ Take part now at ➡️ https://t.co/JAdFdjETfA #ballondor #boat

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 20, 2026

Fans can now cast their vote for the B.O.A.T, with voting set to close on October 27th at midnight. Each vote costs €1.

The results are expected to be announced on October 28th.

The main award ceremony is scheduled to hold on October 26th at the London Palladium in London.

B.O.A.T nominees

Lionel Messi: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

Johan Cruyff: 1971, 1973, 1974

Michel Platini: 1983, 1984, 1985

Marco van Basten: 1988, 1989, 1992

Ronaldo Nazario: 1997, 2002

Franz Beckenbauer: 1972, 1976

Alfredo Di Stéfano: 1957, 1959

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: 1980, 1981

Kevin Keegan: 1978, 1979