The key facts

  • A new award, the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time' (B.O.A.T.), has been established; the list of 10 candidates was announced on October 20.
  • The list includes Messi (8 Ballons d'Or) and Ronaldo (5), as well as Di Stéfano, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Keegan, Rummenigge, Platini, van Basten and the Brazilian Ronaldo.
  • Pelé and Maradona cannot compete: until 1995 the award was given only to Europeans, and the criterion is a minimum of two Ballons d'Or.

New award and list of candidates

On October 20, the list of contenders for the newly established award 'Ballon d'Or of All Time' (Ballon d'Or of All Time, B.O.A.T.) was announced. It includes ten footballers: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain), Johan Cruyff (Netherlands), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), Kevin Keegan (England), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany), Michel Platini (France), Marco van Basten (Netherlands) and the Brazilian Ronaldo.

Selection criteria

According to France Football's criteria, only footballers who have won the Ballon d'Or at least twice can compete for the new trophy. For this reason, Pelé and Diego Maradona are not on the list — until 1995 the award was given exclusively to European players. Messi has eight Ballons d'Or, Ronaldo five; Beckenbauer, Platini, Cruyff, van Basten and others won the award two or three times each.

Voting

It is reported that the winner of the award will be determined by a fan vote. According to fans, each vote costs 1 euro; those who vote will receive a high-quality digital photograph of the Ballon d'Or winner. In addition, two tickets to the 2027 ceremony are being raffled among voters.