Blog
Award records, close votes and the facts people get wrong, from the same data the games use.
- SPORT·
B.O.A.T.: how the Ballon d'Or of All Time vote works
Ronaldo's 2008 leads with about three quarters of the votes. Messi has eight entries and is splitting his own. Voting closes on 27 October.
- SPORT·
Who wins the Ballon d'Or in a World Cup year
Keegan won it in 1978 without going to the World Cup. Pelé was never eligible. Rodri was named player of the tournament this summer and is on the shortlist.
- MOVIES & TV·
The actors with the most Oscar nominations and no win
Close gets an honorary Oscar on 15 November after eight losses. O'Toole asked the Academy to wait until he was 80. Burton lost seven times and never got one.
- SPORT·
Every defender who has won the Ballon d'Or
Beckenbauer twice, Sammer by one point, Cannavaro after Berlin. Then 18 editions without a defender, and nine of them on this year's shortlist.