October 29
Did Messi Deserve It More?
The manner in which Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo—currently captain of the Saudi club Al-Nassr—was named the greatest Ballon d'Or winner in history has sparked controversy over the past few hours.
On Wednesday, the French magazine *France Football* announced that Ronaldo had been awarded the "BOAT" (Best of All Time) title among Ballon d'Or winners, recognizing his 2008 victory while playing for Manchester United.
The Portuguese star edged out his Argentine rival, Lionel Messi, in the voting process; Messi placed second for the Ballon d'Or he won in 2012 while with Barcelona.
Citing *France Football*, Spanish media reported that the voting system allowed individuals to cast multiple ballots, with a fee of one euro charged for each vote.
Under this system, 5,009 people voted more than once: 4,665 individuals voted between two and four times, 300 people voted between five and nine times, and 44 people voted between 10 and 26 times.
Reports indicated that the French magazine generated a significant sum of money through these fan-driven votes, intended to crown their favorite stars as the greatest Ballon d'Or winner in history.
This method has stirred controversy, particularly among fans of Lionel Messi, who argue that he was more deserving of the title—specifically for his 2012 performance, a year in which he scored 91 goals. It is worth noting that Messi remains the all-time record holder for the Ballon d'Or, having won the award eight times, compared to five wins for Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.
