From 2004 to 2023, Ronaldo and Messi dominated the Ballon d’Or narrative, not just as nominees but as record-breaking winners.Their two decade-long duel for the prestigious award transcended football, captivating fans and pundits alike. Now, as the 2024 edition of the Ballon d’Or rolls out its nominee list without either legend, we take a look back at their extraordinary impact on the award over the last 20 years.
2004-2007: The Rise of Two Icons
When Ronaldo earned his first Ballon d’Or nomination in 2004, few could have predicted the rivalry that was about to unfold. Messi followed with his first nomination in 2006. At this point, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Fabio Cannavaro still ruled the roost. Kaka, in particular, was the last player outside Messi and Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or before the duo took full control of the award in the subsequent decade.
2008-2017: The Decade of Domination
The period from 2008 to 2017 belongs entirely to Messi and Ronaldo. Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008, while Messi claimed his first in 2009. From then on, the pair alternated between first and second places, occasionally disrupted by the odd third-place finish, but always miles ahead of their competition.
- Messi’s 8 Ballon d’Or wins (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023): Messi’s vision, dribbling, and playmaking ability, combined with his goal-scoring prowess, saw him win the award a record eight times, the most of any player in history.
- Ronaldo’s 5 Ballon d’Or wins (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017): Ronaldo’s extraordinary athleticism, coupled with his unmatched ability to deliver in the biggest moments, saw him claim the Ballon d’Or five times, making him the second-most decorated player after Messi.
2018-2022: Cracks in the dominance
The stranglehold of Messi and Ronaldo began to show signs of weakening in 2018. That year, Croatian midfielder
Luka Modric broke the duo’s ten-year dominance by winning the Ballon d’Or, thanks to his performances for Real Madrid and Croatia’s run to the World Cup final.
Messi bounced back with wins in 2019 and 2021, while Ronaldo continued to finish in the top three regularly. After Modric’s 2018 win, Karim Benzema grabbed the coveted trophy in 2022, before Messi won his record-extending eighth last year in 2023.
2024: The Turning of the Tide
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee list is a watershed moment for football. For the first time since 2003, neither Messi nor Ronaldo features among the nominees. Both have entered the twilight of their careers, with Messi now plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami and Ronaldo playing in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr. Their omission signals a changing of the guard, with the new faces of football poised to take center stage.
In total, Ronaldo and Messi accounted for 13 Ballon d’Or trophies between 2008 and 2023. Their rivalry wasn’t just about personal glory; it pushed their respective teams, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Argentina and Portugal, to achieve unprecedented success.