Despite the attempts of both men to play down its importance at various points, the Ballon d'Or cut to the heart of the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry like nothing else. As much as is possible in a team sport, it was a battleground where teammates, coaches and their collective achievements faded relatively into the background.
You can make the case that it added an artificial and unseemly peacocking element to the rolling debate of who was the best of their era, who was the GOAT and all that stuff. But when an award is there to decide the best player in the world, it cuts through all of the noise with a gleaming golden ball.
After Messi extended an advantage in the personal Ballon d'Or battle once again, with victories in 2019 and 2021 taking his record-breaking haul to seven, he allowed himself to admit that Ronaldo pulling level in 2017 with his fifth success had stung.
"On the one hand, I appreciated having five and being the only one to do so," Messi said. "When Cristiano levelled me, I have to admit that it hurt me a bit. I was no longer alone at the summit. But it was logical, even if it is nice when you are alone on five."
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Ronaldo's thirst to chase down Messi — with the Ballon d’Or laid as the central pillar in his argument for greatness — was there for all to see when he bizarrely bellowed the original "SIIIUUUUU" from the winner's podium before cradling the 2014 award.
"To win this trophy and an award of this kind is something unique," he said before faintly startling everyone. "Of course it's something I always think about, to be considered as one of the greatest players of all time. This requires a lot of effort and I hope I get there."
@footballdaily Throwback to the 2015 ceremony of the Ballon d'Or in which Cristiano Ronaldo gave a victory speech in which his iconic ‘Siuuuuu’ was born. 🤣 #cr7 #cristianoronaldo #balondor #footballtiktok #siuuuuuuuuu ♬ original sound - Football Daily
One of the greatest of all time? Ronaldo can consider this to be very much mission accomplished. However, we can remove "one of" from any discussion around Messi.
Ronaldo won a major international honour before Messi at Euro 2016, helping him to level the Ballon d’Or score and has five Champions League winners medals to his rival’s four.
But throughout their dual domination of the global game, the like of which we will probably never see again for their combination of unfathomable brilliance and longevity, it always felt like Ronaldo was the one doing the chasing. It elevated him to greater heights and gave Messi pointed nudges to a higher plain.
A World Cup win, when Messi emotionally completed his career mission, came as Ronaldo parted company with Manchester United in tempestuous fashion before being dropped by Portugal. It suggested a chasm, which is slightly unfair.
Their titanic back and forth, especially during their imperial periods at Barcelona and Real Madrid was unlike anything that came before it. But in a predicament familiar to the dozens of elite defenders who have tried to shackle Messi, Ronaldo was often the one nipping at the great man’s heels as he slipped off in another direction.
During 2023, they each elected to head in very different directions; Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia and Messi to Major League Soccer. There will undoubtedly be money-spinning friendlies arranged between Inter Miami and Al Nassr, but their days as rival competitors are over. As such, the debate is over and has been for some time before Monday’s ceremony in Paris.
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Ronaldo didn’t even make the 30-man shortlist this year, another booming signal of the end of an era. Messi held off closest challenger Erling Haaland to take the top step of the podium. He surely won't manage to do that again.
When he won in 2021, Messi did so on the back of Argentina’s Copa America triumph. This time it will be down to the World Cup, which marks a shift in the autumn of this affair. Club belatedly carries more weight than country.
If Ronaldo and a revitalised Portugal under Roberto Martinez storm to Euro 2024 glory next year, perhaps he will enter the winners’ circle again. Messi still has designs on defending the World Cup with Argentina in 2026.
However many goals they rack up in Riyadh or Miami, Messi and Ronaldo have now stepped away from elite club competition for reasons beyond vast fortunes. They are winding down, the argument is settled.
Ronaldo is almost indefinably great, but Messi is the greatest — whether you count that in hundreds of goals, dozens of medals or eight golden balls.
