Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the best player to have received the Ballon d'Or in the last 70 years. France Football announced the result of the historic poll on 28 October 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Portuguese forward. The recognition covers the seven decades since the inception of the prestigious award, which has been presented to numerous legends of the sport including Stanley Matthews, Lionel Messi, and Ronaldo of Brazil. Voters selected the Portugal captain from a field of past winners to hold this honorary title. His career achievements, which include multiple Ballon d'Or trophies, secured his position at the top of the rankings established by the publication. Cristiano Ronaldo won the honorary title of best player to have received the Ballon d'Or in the last 70 years.
Poll Results and Rankings
Individual award years were ranked based on participant preferences during the voting process. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 victory secured the top position, reflecting the high regard voters held for his performance during that specific campaign. The online poll results placed Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 award in first place. Lionel Messi followed in the rankings, as his 2012 Ballon d'Or award placed second among all winners considered in the survey. Lionel Messi's 2012 award placed second in the poll.
Ronaldo, the Brazilian forward, appeared further down the final list. His 2002 Ballon d'Or award, which followed his performance in that year’s international competition, reached 13th place in the standings. Ronaldo (the Brazilian) placed 13th in the poll for his 2002 award.
France Football magazine established the history of the award by presenting the inaugural Ballon d'Or in 1956. France Football magazine presented the first Ballon d'Or award in 1956 to Stanley Matthews. Stanley Matthews received this initial honor, marking the beginning of a series that has spanned seven decades. The poll conducted by the publication sought to contextualize the historical significance of these individual trophies by allowing the public to assess the relative impact of specific winning years. Participants evaluated the legacy of each award recipient, ultimately determining the order of the final rankings released on 28 October 2026.
The voting process involved a detailed review of each year’s recipient, ensuring that the legacy of the award was properly assessed by the electorate. France Football provided the platform for this evaluation, inviting fans of the sport to contribute their opinions on the most impactful seasons in the history of the Ballon d'Or. By aggregating these individual preferences, the publication was able to create a full list that reflects the collective memory of the footballing community. The final rankings highlight the enduring appeal of the award, which has recognized the talents of players across seventy years of competition. Each entry in the final list represents a specific moment in time where a player’s contribution was deemed the most significant of that year, and the poll allowed for a direct comparison between these different eras. The results demonstrate how voters perceived the accomplishments of the athletes, weighing the influence of their performances during their respective winning campaigns. This initiative by France Football serves to emphasize the prestige associated with the award, which remains one of the most sought-after individual honors in the sport. The inclusion of players like Stanley Matthews, who began the journey in 1956, alongside modern icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, illustrates the evolution of the game over the last seven decades.
