Ronaldo, Messi, Cruyff Lead Nominees For Ballon d’Or of All Time

Football fans have been invited to vote for the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT), with some of the greatest players in the history of the game nominated for the special honour.

The nominees include Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside football legends Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Ronaldo Nazário, Alfredo Di Stéfano and England’s Kevin Keegan.

Fans can cast their votes through the official Ballon d’Or website, with voting scheduled to close on Tuesday.

The initiative offers supporters an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and lasting influence of players who have shaped football across different generations.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d’Or awards for much of the modern era, while previous generations produced iconic figures such as Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Platini and Di Stéfano, whose contributions helped define their respective periods.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazário and Dutch forward Van Basten also feature among the nominees, alongside Rummenigge, the former West Germany international.

Keegan, who won the Ballon d’Or twice during his playing career, is also among the nominees.

The ceremony also featured a poignant tribute to Keegan, the former England player and manager who died earlier this year, as well as remembrances of South Africa’s Jayden Adams and Italian football legend Franco Baresi.