CORNERFLICK
The Ballon d'Or has opened a fan vote asking supporters to choose the best individual season in the award's history as it marks its 70th anniversary in 2026.
How the poll works
The official Ballon d'Or platform has asked fans to pick one season from 10 multiple-time winners: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Messi and Ronaldo are also in the running for the men's Ballon d'Or this year, alongside names such as Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.
Voting is open now and closes at midnight on 27 October, with the results to be announced on 28 October. The main ceremony takes place on 26 October at the London Palladium in London.
The seasons on the shortlist
Messi's nominated seasons are 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Ronaldo's are 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Cruyff's years on the list are 1971, 1973 and 1974, while Platini's are 1983, 1984 and 1985. Van Basten appears for 1988, 1989 and 1992, and Ronaldo Nazário for 1997 and 2002.
Beckenbauer is listed for 1972 and 1976, Di Stéfano for 1957 and 1959, Rummenigge for 1980 and 1981, and Keegan for 1978 and 1979.