Michael Owen ranks Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ronaldo Nazario in Ballon d’Or edition of ‘winner stays on’
Former player Michael Owen recently ranked Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ronaldo Nazario in the Ballon d'Or 'winner stays on' on BBC Sport. The former Liverpool man was in conversation with Ex-Manchester United striker Dion Dublin.
Owen was first asked to choose between Luis Figo, who won the coveted award in 2000, and Rivaldo. The Englishman opted for the Brazilian, who had lifted the award in 1999.
Owen chose Rivaldo over Pavel Nedved, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2003, but switched sides when Ronaldo Nazario came into the scene. O Fenomeno won the award twice in his career, once with Inter Milan in 1997 and later with Real Madrid in 2002.
Owen, who won the top prize himself in 2001 as a Liverpool player, proceeded to choose the Brazilian sensation over a host of former winners, including himself. Ronaldinho, Andriy Shevchenko, Karim Benzema, Fabio Cannavaro, Luka Modric, Rodri, and Kaka failed to alter the Englishman's stance.
However, Owen appeared to be in a fix when Cristiano Ronaldo entered the scene. After much pondering, the former Liverpool striker gave his response, saying (via BBC Sport's official Instagram handle):
"Cristiano Ronaldo."
The Englishman then faced the ultimate question in world football — CR7 or Lionel Messi. Owen took a split second before coming to a decision, saying:
"Messi."
The Argentine legend last won the Ballon d'Or in 2023 as an Inter Miami player. The Portuguese icon's last win came in 2017 during his time at Real Madrid.
How many Ballons d'Or have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi won in their careers?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have unmatched dominance in the Ballon d'Or award race. Before the advent of the duo, only eight players in the history of the award had won it on more than one occasion.
Out of them, only three - Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten - had won the biggest individual prize in football on three occasions. Everything changed once CR7 and La Pulga entered the scene.
The Portuguese superstar first won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 as a Manchester United player. The 39-year-old also won the award in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 during his time with Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi's first win, meanwhile, came in 2009 as a Barcelona player. In total, the Argentine icon has won the award a record eight times, including four consecutive wins between 2009 and 2012. His other wins were in 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
