Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United helped transform him from a promising young winger into one of the most recognisable footballers in history.

His first spell at Old Trafford produced three Premier League titles, a Champions League triumph and the individual recognition that confirmed his arrival among the game’s elite.

The Portuguese forward claimed his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 after scoring 42 goals in all competitions during a remarkable season for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Cristiano Ronaldo would go on to collect four more of the prestigious trophies, establishing himself as one of the award’s most successful recipients alongside his long-time rival Lionel Messi.

Their competition dominated football for more than a decade, with the pair repeatedly challenging each other for the sport’s biggest individual honours.

Even after moving to different continents, their contrasting careers continue to fuel debate over which player deserves to be regarded as the greatest of all time.

Cristiano Ronaldo officially nominated for Ballon d’Or

Now, former Manchester United star Ronaldo is back in the spotlight as the Ballon d’Or launches a public vote to determine the greatest winner in the award’s history, with Messi among the leading contenders.

The initiative, officially branded the Ballon d’Or Of All Time, opened on 1 October and closes on 27 October 2026.

Rather than selecting an overall winner based on their entire career, participants must choose a specific winning year for one of the 10 football legends included in the vote, as you can seen on their website.

Ronaldo’s five winning years are 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

His first triumph came during his Manchester United career, while the remaining four arrived during his time at Real Madrid.

Messi, meanwhile, has eight winning editions available: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

His record haul gives the Argentine a significant advantage in terms of total victories, although the vote asks fans to judge individual winning seasons rather than simply counting trophies.

The remaining nominees also represent different eras of football.

Ronaldo Nazario won in 1997 and 2002, while Marco van Basten claimed the award in 1988, 1989 and 1992.

Michel Platini’s three consecutive victories came in 1983, 1984 and 1985, while Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won in 1980 and 1981.

Kevin Keegan’s winning years were 1978 and 1979, Franz Beckenbauer’s were 1972 and 1976, and Johan Cruyff’s were 1971, 1973 and 1974.

Alfredo Di Stefano completes the list with victories in 1957 and 1959.

There is a commercial element to the campaign, too.

Each vote costs €1, and participants can vote multiple times, including for the same player in different seasons.

The campaign arrives during another turbulent period for Ronaldo.

The Portuguese Football Federation imposed a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine after he left the national-team camp following a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the team.

Ronaldo had been frustrated after remaining on the bench against Norway, having believed he would feature.

He later apologised to his teammates and supporters, accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed his desire to represent Portugal again after the sanction.

Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph remains particularly significant because it came while he was wearing a Manchester United shirt, before he went on to win four more Ballon d’Or trophies in Spain.