Cristiano Ronaldo Messi Ballon Dor. Their formidable feats have been rewarded with a truckload of silverware - Barcelona forward Messi's haul includes five Ballons d'Or, one more than Real Madrid frontman Cristiano. Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has taken a pop at former serial winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over their decision to snub this year's ceremony.
The Ballon d'Or is still a long ways off from being decided, but when all is on the line, it is decisive months like this past April that determine the eventual winner. Ballon d'Or FIFA The Best Men's Player Champions League Golden Boot UEFA Best Player In Europe UEFA Best Forward In Europe Onze d'Or IFFHS World's Best Top. Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award six times, Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award five times.
BBC's football experts look at which players might replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the world's best.
Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to fellow players and voters.
Their formidable feats have been rewarded with a truckload of silverware - Barcelona forward Messi's haul includes five Ballons d'Or, one more than Real Madrid frontman Cristiano. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the best footballers of all time, arguably the very best of them all. France Football add: "Messi will not play in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second consecutive year. "The last winner of the Ballon d'Or that won without playing in them was Fabio.