Cristiano Ronaldo has the most Ballon d’Or nominations, with 18 under the modern nomination record. Lionel Messi follows with 17 after being named among the nominees for the 2026 award.
Nominations measure how often a player appeared on the official Ballon d’Or shortlist. They do not measure wins or podium finishes. A player can be nominated without finishing near the top.
The record needs historical context. Ballon d’Or nomination and voting practices have changed since the award began in 1956. Comparisons across generations therefore require care. For the full list of winners, see the Ballon d’Or Winners List.
What Counts as a Ballon d’Or Nomination?
A nomination means appearing on the official Ballon d’Or shortlist. It does not mean receiving a vote. It does not mean finishing in the top three. It does not mean winning the award.
A player can be nominated and finish well outside the podium. The nomination therefore measures longevity and repeated recognition rather than success alone.
This article uses the modern Ballon d’Or shortlist as the basis for its nomination count. Historical editions did not always follow exactly the same process, so older nomination totals should be compared with care.
Who Has the Most Ballon d’Or Nominations?
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the record with 18 Ballon d’Or nominations, one more than Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi has 17 nominations. His total reaches 17 following his inclusion on the 2026 shortlist. The 2026 ceremony has not yet taken place, so this remains a nomination rather than a completed award result.
| Player | Ballon d’Or nominations |
|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 18 |
| Lionel Messi | 17 |
| Paolo Maldini | 13 |
Cristiano Ronaldo Has the Most Ballon d’Or Nominations
Ronaldo’s 18 nominations span a long period of elite-level recognition, from the mid-2000s through 2022.
His Ballon d’Or wins were in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Nominations form a separate record from wins. For more on his victories, see Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or Wins.
His nomination total shows how frequently he remained in consideration across different stages of his career.
Lionel Messi Has 17 Ballon d’Or Nominations
Messi’s inclusion on the 2026 shortlist brings his total to 17 under the methodology used here.
This stands apart from his eight wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. See Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or Wins for the full winning record.
Ronaldo vs Messi: Ballon d’Or Nominations
| Record | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Nominations | 18 | 17 |
| Wins | 5 | 8 |
| Second-place finishes | 6 | 5 |
| Podium finishes | 12 | 14 |
Ronaldo has more nominations. Messi has more wins and more podium finishes.
Different Ballon d’Or records measure different things. A nomination records recognition, while a win records the final verdict of the voters.
None of this makes nominations a better measure than wins. A nomination records recognition. A win records the final verdict of the voters.
Ronaldo’s six runner-up finishes are covered in our Ballon d’Or runners-up guide.
Why Ballon d’Or Nomination Records Need Historical Context
The award has changed significantly since 1956. These changes make nomination records from different eras harder to compare directly.
In 1956 the award was restricted to European players. In 1995 eligibility expanded to players of any nationality at European clubs. In 2007 it became open to players worldwide.
Between 2010 and 2015 the Ballon d’Or merged with FIFA’s world player award and became the FIFA Ballon d’Or. In 2016 France Football resumed its own Ballon d’Or.
In 2022 the award moved from a calendar-year assessment to a football-season assessment with a revised voting structure.
For more background, see What Is the Ballon d’Or? and Ballon d’Or Voting.
Does a Ballon d’Or Nomination Mean a Player Received Votes?
Not necessarily. A nomination means the player was included among the official candidates. Voting results then decide where each nominated player finishes.
So a nomination, a vote total, a podium finish and a win are four different things. This matters because the terminology is often used loosely. A player can be nominated and still finish well outside the top three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most Ballon d’Or nominations?
Cristiano Ronaldo has the most Ballon d’Or nominations, with 18.
How many Ballon d’Or nominations does Lionel Messi have?
Lionel Messi has 17 Ballon d’Or nominations under the modern nomination record used here, including his place on the 2026 shortlist.
How many Ballon d’Or nominations does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
Cristiano Ronaldo has 18 Ballon d’Or nominations, the most of any player under the record used here.
Does a Ballon d’Or nomination mean a player received a vote?
No. A nomination means the player appeared on the official shortlist. Voting then determines the player’s final position.
Who has more Ballon d’Or nominations, Messi or Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo has more, with 18 nominations compared with Lionel Messi’s 17.
Who has won more Ballon d’Or awards, Messi or Ronaldo?
Lionel Messi has won more, with eight Ballon d’Or awards compared with Cristiano Ronaldo’s five.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the Ballon d’Or nomination record with 18, while Lionel Messi has 17 after making the 2026 shortlist. Their totals underline the difference between being nominated, finishing on the podium and actually winning the award.
Ronaldo leads the nomination count, but Messi has more wins and podium finishes. The 2026 ceremony on 26 October could change the record again, depending on the final result.
