From 2004 to 2023, Ronaldo and Messi dominated the Ballon d’Or narrative, not simply as nominees however as record-breaking winners.Their two decade-long duel for the distinguished award transcended soccer, fascinating followers and pundits alike. Now, because the 2024 version of the Ballon d’Or rolls out its nominee listing with out both legend, we have a look again at their extraordinary impression on the award during the last 20 years.
2004-2007: The Rise of Two Icons
When Ronaldo earned his first Ballon d’Or nomination in 2004, few might have predicted the rivalry that was about to unfold. Messi adopted along with his first nomination in 2006. At this level, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Fabio Cannavaro nonetheless dominated the roost. Kaka, specifically, was the final participant outdoors Messi and Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or earlier than the duo took full management of the award within the subsequent decade.
2008-2017: The Decade of Domination
The interval from 2008 to 2017 belongs totally to Messi and Ronaldo. Ronaldo gained his first Ballon d’Or in 2008, whereas Messi claimed his first in 2009. From then on, the pair alternated between first and second locations, often disrupted by the odd third-place end, however all the time miles forward of their competitors.
- Messi’s eight Ballon d’Or wins (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023): Messi’s imaginative and prescient, dribbling, and playmaking capability, mixed along with his goal-scoring prowess, noticed him win the award a report eight instances, probably the most of any participant in historical past.
- Ronaldo’s 5 Ballon d’Or wins (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017): Ronaldo’s extraordinary athleticism, coupled along with his unmatched capability to ship within the greatest moments, noticed him declare the Ballon d’Or 5 instances, making him the second-most embellished participant after Messi.
2018-2022: Cracks within the dominance
The stranglehold of Messi and Ronaldo started to indicate indicators of weakening in 2018. That yr, Croatian midfielder
Luka Modric broke the duo’s ten-year dominance by profitable the Ballon d’Or, due to his performances for Actual Madrid and Croatia’s run to the World Cup last.
Messi bounced again with wins in 2019 and 2021, whereas Ronaldo continued to complete within the high three recurrently. After Modric’s 2018 win, Karim Benzema grabbed the coveted trophy in 2022, earlier than Messi gained his record-extending eighth final yr in 2023.
2024: The Turning of the Tide
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee listing is a watershed second for soccer. For the primary time since 2003, neither Messi nor Ronaldo options among the many nominees. Each have entered the twilight of their careers, with Messi now plying his commerce within the MLS with Inter Miami and Ronaldo enjoying in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr. Their omission indicators a altering of the guard, with the brand new faces of soccer poised to take middle stage.
In whole, Ronaldo and Messi accounted for 13 Ballon d’Or trophies between 2008 and 2023. Their rivalry wasn’t nearly private glory; it pushed their respective groups, Barcelona, Actual Madrid, Juventus, and Argentina and Portugal, to realize unprecedented success.
