Cristiano Ronaldo has become the centre of a new Ballon d’Or controversy after reports claimed fans were spending money to support him in a special vote. The Portuguese legend currently leads Lionel Messi by a huge margin, but the voting system has raised serious questions.

Ronaldo at Centre of Ballon d’Or Controversy as Fans Pay for Votes

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the centre of a new Ballon d’Or controversy after reports revealed that some of his supporters are spending money to help him win a special award-related vote.

The Portuguese superstar currently leads Lionel Messi by a huge margin in the Ballon d’Or Of All Time (B.O.A.T.) poll.

However, the voting system has caused criticism because supporters must pay money to participate and can vote as many times as they want.

Some media reports have now raised questions about whether the result reflects genuine fan support or simply how much money people are willing to spend.

Ronaldo fans reportedly launch paid voting campaign

According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport on October 21, some Ronaldo supporters have organised a campaign to buy votes for the Portuguese legend.

The controversy started after the official Ballon d’Or website launched a special poll to choose the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season of all time.

Some fans reportedly believed the vote would decide a major official trophy and began encouraging others to support Ronaldo.

However, the biggest problem is the unusual voting system, which allows supporters to pay for an unlimited number of votes.

For some critics, this raises questions about whether the competition is fair to every player.

Fans can pay €1 for each vote

Unlike the regular Ballon d’Or, which is decided by journalists, the B.O.A.T. poll is open to supporters.

According to the official rules, each vote requires a payment of €1.

Fans receive access to a digital photograph and other community benefits when they participate.

But there is one important detail.

A supporter can vote as many times as they want, provided they pay another €1 for each additional vote.

For example, someone who spends €100 can cast 100 votes for the same player.

That means the total number of votes does not necessarily represent the number of different people supporting a footballer.

The system has caused criticism because supporters with more money can have a greater influence on the result.

Ronaldo leads Messi by an incredible margin

Despite the controversy, Ronaldo is currently dominating the special poll.

According to official figures released by Ballon d’Or on October 20, Ronaldo’s incredible 2008 season leads with 75% of the votes.

Lionel Messi’s historic 2012 season is second with just 9%, while Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign sits third with 6%.

These percentages represent votes for specific Ballon d’Or-winning seasons, rather than the total support received by each player across all their nominated years.

Ronaldo’s 2008 season remains one of the greatest achievements of his career.

He scored 42 goals for Manchester United, winning the Premier League, Champions League and European Golden Shoe.

Meanwhile, Messi’s 2012 campaign is remembered for his extraordinary record of 91 goals in a calendar year.

Both seasons are considered legendary, but Ronaldo currently holds a huge lead in the fan poll.

Supporter reportedly spends €30 voting for Ronaldo

The controversy has grown after reports revealed examples of supporters spending money on multiple votes.

According to Argentine newspaper Infobae, one social media user claimed to have paid €30 to vote 30 times for Ronaldo.

The supporter reportedly shared the purchase publicly while encouraging others to back the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The case has added to concerns that fans may be able to influence the final result by spending large amounts of money.

Several media outlets have criticised the system, arguing that it measures financial support as well as football popularity.

However, paying for multiple votes is allowed under the official rules, meaning such purchases are not automatically considered cheating.

Ballon d’Or organisers clarify the truth

As criticism continued, the Ballon d’Or organisers made an important clarification on their official website.

The B.O.A.T. poll is not an official trophy and does not decide the winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Instead, it is a special fan vote celebrating the greatest winning seasons in the award’s history.

Participants can also enter a prize draw for tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

This means that even if Ronaldo wins the poll, it will not count as a sixth official Ballon d’Or.

There is also no verified evidence that Ronaldo himself has paid for votes or personally organised the reported campaign.

The current controversy concerns the actions of some supporters and the organisers’ paid voting system.

When will the final result be announced?

The special B.O.A.T. poll will remain open until October 27, 2026.

According to the organisers, the final results will be announced on October 28.

Meanwhile, the official 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 at the London Palladium in England.

The two events are separate, and the fan poll has no effect on the official award decided by journalists.

With several days of voting remaining, Ronaldo’s large lead could still change.

Another controversy in the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry

The latest debate has once again brought Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi into the spotlight.

For almost two decades, the two legends have dominated discussions about the greatest footballer of all time.

Messi currently leads their official Ballon d’Or record with eight awards, compared with Ronaldo’s five.

However, Ronaldo’s supporters are now pushing to help him finish first in this special fan poll.

What should have been a celebration of football history has instead become a debate about paid votes and the fairness of the voting system.

Ronaldo remains comfortably ahead in the latest published results, but the controversy shows why the outcome must be treated differently from an official Ballon d’Or award.

The biggest question is no longer simply whether Ronaldo will beat Messi. It is whether a competition allowing unlimited paid votes can truly show which football legend has the strongest support.