The Ballon d’Or 2015 Rankings sparked fresh debate in the endless rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Coming after a spectacular year filled with domestic triumphs, dazzling performances, and Champions League battles, the award carried even greater weight.
Would Messi reclaim his crown, or would Ronaldo defend his dominance? The rankings provided a clear answer, but also left plenty for fans and analysts to discuss.
Who Was Crowned Ballon d’Or 2015?
In 2015, Lionel Messi was crowned winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the fifth time in his career.
He secured 41.33% of the votes, comfortably ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who received 27.76%, and Neymar, who claimed third place with 7.86%.
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Messi’s return to the top highlighted his creative brilliance, technical precision, and his influence on Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign.
Lionel Messi: Ballon d’Or Winner 2015
Lionel Messi’s 2015 season was nothing short of magical. With Barcelona, he led the club to a historic treble: La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.
His goalscoring partnership with Neymar and Luis Suárez—the famed “MSN” trio—tore defenses apart across Europe, delivering decisive moments on the biggest stages.
Beyond the numbers, Messi’s vision, dribbling, and leadership proved pivotal to Barcelona’s dominance.
His ability to dictate matches from midfield as well as from forward positions set him apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar that year.
The combination of trophies, individual brilliance, and consistent performances made Messi the clear winner of the 2015 Ballon d’Or.
Ballon d’Or Rankings 2015: Top 10 Players
Here are the top 10 players in the 2015 Ballon d’Or Rankings, showing their clubs and vote percentages:
| Rank | Player | Club(s) in 2015 | Vote Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 41.33% |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 27.76% |
| 3 | Neymar | Barcelona | 7.86% |
| 4 | Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 4.17% |
| 5 | Luis Suárez | Barcelona | 3.38% |
| 6 | Thomas Müller | Bayern Munich | 1.47% |
| 7 | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich | 1.06% |
| 8 | Eden Hazard | Chelsea | 0.99% |
| 9 | Andrés Iniesta | Barcelona | 0.88% |
| 10 | Alexis Sánchez | Arsenal | 0.79% |
Beyond the Top 10 & Key Takeaways
The Ballon d’Or 2015 Rankings also featured other standout names outside the top 10, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Paul Pogba, Gareth Bale, Sergio Agüero, and Kevin De Bruyne, reflecting the global spread of talent.
Key takeaways from the Ballon d’Or 2015 Rankings:
- Lionel Messi’s treble-winning campaign made him nearly untouchable in the voting.
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive goal tally kept him close but not enough to challenge Messi’s overall impact.
- Neymar’s rise to third highlighted his growing importance in global football, cementing his status as a future contender.
Read also: Ballon d’Or 2014 Rankings
The Ballon d’Or 2015 Rankings answered the big question—Messi or Ronaldo?—with Lionel Messi reclaiming his dominance in style.
His fifth Ballon d’Or win not only reflected his brilliance in 2015 but also reinforced his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
For fans of Cristiano Ronaldo, the rivalry was far from over, but 2015 belonged unquestionably to Messi.
