Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign has been voted the greatest in the award’s history in a fan poll organised by France Football to mark the prize’s 70th anniversary.
The results of the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) initiative were announced on Wednesday, October 28, with Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign finishing first ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 season.
The poll invited fans to select the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season rather than judge players’ entire careers. Eligible campaigns belonged to footballers who had won the award at least twice.
Ronaldo earned his first Ballon d’Or while playing for Manchester United after a remarkable 2007/08 campaign.
The Portuguese forward scored 42 goals in all competitions, including 31 in the Premier League, where he won the Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe. He also scored eight goals in the Champions League as United won both the Premier League and the European title, beating Chelsea in the final.
The BOAT result adds a symbolic distinction to Ronaldo’s career but does not constitute a new official Ballon d’Or trophy or change the historical number of awards won by him or Messi.
The final ranking placed Ronaldo and Messi across all 10 positions, with Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign taking the top spot.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo — 2008
2. Lionel Messi — 2012
3. Cristiano Ronaldo — 2017
4. Lionel Messi — 2023
5. Cristiano Ronaldo — 2016
6. Cristiano Ronaldo — 2014
7. Lionel Messi — 2015
8. Cristiano Ronaldo — 2013
9. Lionel Messi — 2011
10. Lionel Messi — 2009
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