Cristiano Ronaldo has topped a global fan vote to claim the inaugural B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time) recognition, with his 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign at Manchester United selected as the greatest among the award-winning seasons of football legends. Lionel Messi finished second with his 2012 campaign, placing the two long-time rivals at the top of the rankings.
The initiative was launched by France Football as part of the Ballon d’Or’s 70th-anniversary celebrations. It invited fans to compare outstanding seasons from players who had won the prestigious individual award multiple times.
Ronaldo’s victory recognises his remarkable 2007–08 season, when he helped Manchester United win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League while establishing himself as one of the world’s leading footballers.
Ronaldo’s Historic 2007–08 Season
Ronaldo scored 42 goals across all competitions during the 2007–08 campaign. His performances were instrumental in Manchester United’s domestic and European success under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
In the Premier League, the Portuguese forward scored 31 goals to finish as the competition’s leading scorer. He also played a decisive role in United’s Champions League campaign, scoring eight goals in the tournament.
Manchester United defeated Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow after the match ended 1–1 and was decided by a penalty shootout. Ronaldo scored United’s goal during regular time, although he later missed his penalty in the shootout before his teammates secured the trophy.
His individual achievements that season helped him win his first Ballon d’Or in 2008. He went on to claim the award four more times, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
The latest fan-voted recognition adds another distinction to a career defined by sustained goalscoring and success across several major European competitions.
Messi Finishes Second With His Record-Breaking 2012 Campaign
Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or-winning season finished behind Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign. The Argentine forward’s achievements that year included scoring 91 goals for club and country, setting a record for goals in a calendar year.
Although Messi’s 2012 performances were extraordinary, voters placed Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or-winning season at the top of the final list.
The rankings also featured Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign in third place and Messi’s 2023 season in fourth. Ronaldo’s 2016 campaign rounded out the top five.
The results showed the lasting influence of the two players on modern football. Their award-winning seasons occupied the leading positions, reflecting the extraordinary individual records they accumulated over more than a decade at the highest level.
How the B.O.A.T. Voting Worked
The B.O.A.T. initiative allowed fans to select the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning campaign from a shortlist of multiple-time winners. The voting opened on October 1 and closed on October 27, 2026.
Unlike the main Ballon d’Or, which is decided through voting by an international panel of journalists, the B.O.A.T. ranking was determined by public participation. Voting required a payment, and participants were entered into a draw for tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The recognition is symbolic and does not come with a separate physical trophy. It is also distinct from the annual Ballon d’Or itself: the poll compares past winning seasons rather than selecting the best player of the current year.
Other football legends included in the wider rankings were Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Marco van Basten and Ronaldo Nazário.
A New Recognition in Football’s Greatest Rivalry
Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or-winning campaign has now received another public distinction nearly two decades after its original success. The result adds to the continuing debate surrounding the achievements of Ronaldo and Messi, whose careers have shaped an era of international football.
The B.O.A.T. result reflects the preferences of participating fans rather than a definitive statistical verdict on football history. Nevertheless, it places Ronaldo’s exceptional 2007–08 season at the centre of a celebration of the sport’s most memorable individual achievements.
