Winning the Ballon d’Or is already considered the highest individual achievement in football, but there is another trophy that is even more exclusive the Super Ballon d’Or.
Unlike the standard Ballon d’Or, which is awarded every year, the Super Ballon d’Or has only been handed out once. Because of that, many football fans are only now discovering it again as rumours continue to spread about a possible return in 2029.
Naturally, once the discussions started online, the focus quickly shifted toward Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. After dominating football for almost two decades, both players are seen as the strongest candidates if the award ever comes back.
When Was The Super Ballon d’Or Last Awarded?
The Super Ballon d’Or was awarded in 1989, and Alfredo Di Stefano remains the only player in history to win it. France Football introduced the trophy as a special recognition for the greatest footballer over a long period rather than just a single season. Di Stefano, who became a Real Madrid icon during the 1950s and 1960s, finished ahead of Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini in the voting.
🚨| 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Lionel Messi is the clear favourite to win the Super Ballon D’or in 2029. 🤯🐐 pic.twitter.com/LJfHJ5MBBI
— Football VAR (@Footy_VAR) May 8, 2026
Since then, the award has disappeared completely from football. However, recent reports have claimed that France Football could bring the Super Ballon d’Or back in 2029. While there has still been no official confirmation, the rumours alone have created massive debate among fans over who deserves it most.
That is where Messi and Ronaldo enter the conversation. Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or trophies during his career, the highest total ever recorded. The Argentine also strengthened his case significantly after leading Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in 2022. For many fans, that victory completed his football story perfectly.
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has won five Ballon d’Or awards and remains one of the greatest goalscorers the sport has ever seen. From Manchester United to Real Madrid and Portugal, Ronaldo consistently delivered at the highest level for nearly 20 years.
The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo defined an entire era of football. Week after week, season after season, both players continued breaking records that once seemed impossible to reach.
Still, if the Super Ballon d’Or is awarded again, Messi appears to have the advantage in most discussions. His World Cup triumph, combined with eight Ballon d’Or wins and countless records, has pushed him slightly ahead in the eyes of many supporters.
Of course, football fans will continue debating the topic endlessly until there is official confirmation about the trophy’s return.
For now, Alfredo Di Stefano remains the only player to ever lift the Super Ballon d’Or but if 2029 really becomes the year it returns, another football legend could finally join him.
