Every player Messi and Ronaldo voted for in FIFA Best and Ballon d'Or awards

The roar of the crowd fades into the background, but the silence of the ballot box screams louder than any goal celebration. For over a decade, we watched Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo trade blows on the pitch, yet their written votes reveal the true psychological warfare of their rivalry. This is not just a list of names; it is a glimpse into the souls of the two greatest gladiators to ever lace up boots.

Why The Numbers Matter

Close your eyes. Listen to the stadium. Can you hear it? It is the sound of millions of hearts breaking and soaring in unison. The statistics of goals and assists are cold, hard facts. They do not bleed. But these votes? These votes bleed. They are the pulse of the rivalry. When the captains of national teams cast their ballots for the FIFA Best or the Ballon d'Or, they aren't just ticking boxes. They are defining history.

For years, the narrative was simple. You were either Team Messi or Team Ronaldo. There was no middle ground. The trenches were dug deep. The data released regarding their voting habits confirms exactly what the fans felt in the stands: intense, burning competition. Every omitted vote felt like a slide tackle. Every inclusion felt like a handshake after a brutal war. The numbers matter because they prove that the players were just as obsessed with the rivalry as we were.

The Cold War Era: Silence Speaks Volumes

Think back to 2011. 2012. The height of El Clásico. Barcelona vs Real Madrid. The atmosphere was poisonous. It was intoxicating. It was perfect. In those years, the idea of Messi voting for Ronaldo, or Ronaldo voting for Messi, was laughable. It was treason.

The records show a distinct pattern of tactical blindness. Ronaldo would stack his votes with Real Madrid teammates. Sergio Ramos. Karim Benzema. Mesut Özil. Anything to dilute the pool. Anything to keep the Argentine magician away from the top spot. It wasn't just voting; it was defensive strategy. He parked the bus in the ballot box.

"They ignored each other like ex-lovers at a wedding. The tension wasn't just in the legs; it was in the ink of the pen."

Messi was no saint either. His loyalty to La Masia was his shield. Xavi. Iniesta. Later, Suarez and Neymar. The 'MSN' trio wasn't just a forward line; it was a voting bloc. For years, the two greatest players on earth pretended the other didn't exist when it came time to judge excellence. The fans fed on this pettiness. We loved it. It made every goal celebration feel like a direct insult to the other.

The Thaw: When Respect Broke the Ice

Then, the shift happened. The noise in the stadium changed from hostility to awe. We grew older. They grew older. The hate began to dissolve into begrudging respect. The reveal of the votes in later years sent shockwaves through the footballing world.

Suddenly, Messi's ballot included Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a subtle nod. A tip of the hat. Ronaldo returned the favor in subsequent years. Why? Because greatness recognizes greatness. When you stand at the summit of the mountain, the only other person you see is the one standing on the peak next to you. The air is thin up there. Only they knew the pressure.