Ronaldo keeps historical Ballon d’Or edge over Messi despite 2026 absence

Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead of Lionel Messi in the number of times they have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, despite the Portugal forward being omitted from the 2026 shortlist.

France Football has announced the final 30-player list for this year’s award, with Messi included after a series of notable performances for Argentina at the World Cup. Ronaldo, captain of Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, is not among the nominees.

Messi’s selection represents the 17th time he has appeared on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, according to Spanish newspaper AS. That places the Inter Miami forward second in the all-time rankings for nominations.

Ronaldo leads that list by one nomination, having been selected 18 times during his career. His first appearance came in 2005, while his most recent nomination was in 2022.

The 2026 shortlist includes a strong presence from Spain’s national team, who are the reigning World Cup champions. Paris Saint-Germain are also heavily represented after winning the Champions League in the 2025-26 season.

Players from outside Europe’s five major domestic leagues also feature. Al Nassr forward Sadio Mane and Al-Qadsiah attacker Julian Quinones are included, while Messi is the only representative from Major League Soccer.

Although Ronaldo has the advantage in appearances among the nominees, Messi has the superior record when it comes to winning the award.

The Argentina captain has claimed the Ballon d’Or eight times, more than any other player. Ronaldo has won the prize five times.

Messi and Ronaldo remain the only players to have won the Ballon d’Or more than once during the 21st century.

The all-time nomination list

Italy great Paolo Maldini is third in the historical ranking, with 13 nominations.

He is followed by Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Karim Benzema, who have each been shortlisted 12 times. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluigi Buffon, Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini and Eusebio have each received 11 nominations.

The figures underline the contrasting nature of the two modern greats’ records. Ronaldo has been involved in the Ballon d’Or conversation more often, while Messi has converted more of those appearances into victories.

Messi’s inclusion in the 2026 list means he continues to add to a record that already includes eight wins. Ronaldo’s absence ends his current run of nominations, but his overall total remains the highest in the history of the award.

The 30-player shortlist features many of the leading names in world football, with the final vote set to determine the recipient of the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

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