The official Ballon d’Or website has launched a fan vote to determine the greatest winning season in the history of the prestigious football award.
The competition, titled Ballon d’Or Of All Time, invites football fans to select the individual season they consider the most outstanding among previous winners of the award. Voting is open until October 27, 2026, with the results scheduled for announcement the following day.
The initiative features celebrated footballers, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Rather than selecting only a player’s overall career achievements, voters are asked to identify a specific Ballon d’Or-winning year. The official website lists individual winning seasons, allowing fans to compare performances across different generations of football.
Messi’s 2011/12 campaign is among the seasons that could attract attention from supporters. The Argentine forward enjoyed a remarkable year for Barcelona, scoring 73 goals in all competitions during the 2011/12 season.
The vote offers football fans an opportunity to debate how individual brilliance, consistency, records and achievements should be weighed when comparing players from different eras.
However, participation is not entirely free. According to the official voting terms, voters must register an account and purchase a digital Ballon d’Or photograph for €1 to cast their votes. Voting closes at 23:59 Paris time on October 27, with the results due on October 28.
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