Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up a commanding lead over Lionel Messi in the official Best Of All Time (B.O.A.T.) poll ahead of a football awards ceremony scheduled to take place at The London Palladium.
The poll, introduced by the Ballon d’Or organisers to recognise outstanding players across seven decades of football, features 10 nominees who have won the prestigious individual award at least twice.
According to Marca, Ronaldo currently leads the voting with 62 per cent of the total, with his 2008 season receiving the strongest support.
The Portuguese forward helped Manchester United win both the Premier League and Champions League that year.
Messi occupies second place, but his support is divided among several of his most celebrated seasons.
His record-breaking 2012 campaign, when he scored 91 goals, has received 13 per cent of the votes, while his 2023 season, highlighted by Argentina’s World Cup triumph, has attracted nine per cent.
The gap between the two modern-day rivals has become a major talking point as the poll approaches its closing date.
The voting structure assesses each player’s achievements season by season, meaning nominees with several standout campaigns compete against different versions of their own careers.
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Messi’s votes are currently spread across eight different winning years, diluting the percentage received by any single season, while Ronaldo’s support is concentrated around his 2008 campaign.
The 10 nominees are Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Ronaldo Nazario, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or award, which is decided by international journalists, the B.O.A.T. poll gives supporters the opportunity to vote through digital platforms.
Fans can cast unlimited votes for their preferred candidate, with each submission costing one euro.
Online voting is scheduled to close at midnight on October 25, shortly before the London ceremony, when the final numbers will be sealed.
While the poll focuses on their legacies, Ronaldo and Messi remain active in football and are also pursuing the milestone of 1,000 official career goals.
Ronaldo has moved beyond 980 goals in more than 1,300 professional appearances, while Messi has scored over 935 goals in approximately 1,100 matches.
With the voting deadline approaching, Ronaldo’s substantial lead places him in a strong position in the public poll, although Messi and the other nominees remain in contention until voting closes.
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