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Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo's Voting In Individual Awards Since 2010 Is Especially Interesting

Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo's Voting In Individual Awards Since 2010 Is Especially Interesting

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's votes for the past ten years have emerged.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Cristiano Ronaldo voted for Lionel Messi for the very first time this year, ending a lengthy trend of omitting him when it comes to individual awards.

As revealed on the official FIFA website, Ronaldo put his long-time rival Messi in second position after eventual the best FIFA Men's Player winner Robert Lewandowski and just ahead of PSG's Kylian Mbappe.

Image: PA
Image: PA

But after giving props to Ronaldo for two consecutive years, Messi left the Juventus superstar off his voting form completely this time around - instead going for his former teammate Neymar, Mbappe and Lewandowski in that order.

The pair of titans have dominated football for a decade and their votes for FIFA's 'The Best' and Ballon d'Or make for some very interesting reading.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Clearly, even with a healthy rivalry, there has been some personal bias from both men and that's clear to see in their selections - where they've regularly used the privilege as national team captains to vote for their teammates.

They've also never voted for one another as the first pick in either of the two awards.

Lionel Messi awards voting

Ballon d'Or:

  • 2010: Didn't vote
  • 2011: Xavi, Iniesta, Aguero
  • 2012: Iniesta, Xavi, Aguero
  • 2013: Iniesta, Xavi, Neymar
  • 2014: Di Maria, Iniesta, Mascherano
  • 2015: Suarez, Neymar, Iniesta

FIFA 'The Best':

  • 2016: Suarez, Neymar, Iniesta
  • 2017: Suarez, Iniesta, Neymar
  • 2018: Modric, Mbappe, Ronaldo
  • 2019: Mane, Ronaldo, De Jong
  • 2020: Neymar, Mbappe, Lewandowski

Cristiano Ronaldo awards voting

Ballon d'Or:

  • 2010: Xavi, Casillas, Sneijder
  • 2011: Did not vote
  • 2012: Did not vote
  • 2013: Falcao, Bale, Ozil
  • 2014: Ramos, Bale, Benzema
  • 2015: Benzema James, Bale

FIFA's 'The Best':

  • 2016: Bale, Modric, Ramos
  • 2017: Modric, Ramos, Marcelo
  • 2018: Varane, Modric, Griezmann
  • 2019: De Ligt, De Jong, Mbappe
  • 2020: Lewandowski, Messi, Mbappe
Image: PA
Image: PA

Messi and Ronaldo both had very different reactions to Lewandowski usurping them and being handed the latest individual prize by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Messi looked relatively happy for the Bayern Munich striker, while Ronaldo, despite voting for Lewandowski, looked absolutely fuming as he sat there with his arms folded live on the big screen.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or, The Best, Cristiano Ronaldo

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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