Football greats Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Johan Cruyff have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT), with fans invited to vote for the player they consider the greatest in the history of the game.
The special initiative brings together legends from different generations, offering supporters an opportunity to celebrate the players whose achievements and influence have shaped world football.
Other nominees include Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Ronaldo Nazário, Alfredo Di Stéfano and former England international Kevin Keegan.
Fans can cast their votes through the official Ballon d’Or website, with voting scheduled to close on Tuesday.
The contest places Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who dominated the prestigious individual award for much of the modern era, alongside icons whose contributions helped define earlier periods of the game.
Messi and Ronaldo set remarkable standards during their rivalry, collecting multiple Ballon d’Or awards and sustaining one of football’s most celebrated individual contests.
However, the nomination list also recognises the impact of previous generations, including Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Platini and Di Stéfano, whose influence extended beyond individual honours.
Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazário and Dutch forward Van Basten are also among the contenders, reflecting their achievements and enduring reputations as two of the game’s most celebrated forwards.
Rummenigge, a former West Germany international, completes the list alongside Keegan, who won the Ballon d’Or twice during his playing career.
The initiative gives supporters an opportunity to compare players whose careers unfolded in different footballing eras, despite changes in tactics, competition formats and playing conditions.
Meanwhile, the ceremony featured a tribute to Keegan, the former England player and manager who died earlier this year.
Remembrances were also held for South African footballer Jayden Adams and Italian football legend Franco Baresi.
The Ballon d’Or of All Time initiative seeks to celebrate football’s enduring greats and their contributions to the sport across generations.
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