Fans divided as ‘Super Ballon d’Or’ rankings revealed with Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate finally settled
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SUPPORTERS have been left torn after a fan created and revealed “Super Ballon d’Or” rankings for the last 32 years.
The accolade has only ever been given out once in the history of the game.
Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano received it in 1989 to mark the 30th anniversary of France Football magazine.
It was that outlet that announced the winner, which only players from Europe were eligible to win.
Argentinian Di Stefano qualified through his Spanish citizenship and pipped Dutch icon Johan Cruyff and French star Michel Platini to the prize.
A host of footy fans have been calling for the gong to return in order to celebrate the greats and achievements of players from the current era.
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That has led to user @mkx696969x calculating how the list might look based purely on Ballon d'Or performances from 1990 onwards.
And if his calculations are correct, then it surely puts the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to bed for good.
Messi, who finally got his hands on the World Cup this month, has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times compared to Ronaldo’s five.
And therefore it should come as no surprise to see the Argentina talisman top the list - with a host of surprise names making the top 30.
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The rankings were decided on how players have placed in the Ballon d'Or votes over the past three decades.
However, while the Messi and Ronaldo debate was the main topic, it was the placing of other icons that also got people talking.
Brazilian legend Ronaldo came in behind the above two, leading to one person commenting: “R9 being 3rd shows just how much better he would have been than everyone else without the injuries.”
Another wrote: “Mane has no business being on this list, Beckham next to Buffon what a joke.”
A fellow fan commented: “Shevchenko was a monster one of the greatest 9's ever seen. Ronaldinho top 10 despite everyone saying his prime lasted 2 years.”
While another said: “From a quick glimpse, Suarez at #30 is probably the most controversial for me.”
Here’s the list in full:
