Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or wins all-time fan vote
Fans chose Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or season as the greatest in the award’s history.
The Portuguese forward won that year while playing for Manchester United, earning his first of five Ballon d’Or awards.
Lionel Messi’s 2012 season finished second in the vote.
The special poll was held to mark the award’s 70th anniversary and asked people to choose among specific seasons of players who had won the Ballon d’Or at least twice.
Each vote cost one euro, and voting took place online.
Ronaldo’s 2008 season included winning the Champions League and Premier League with Manchester United, and he later moved to Real Madrid.
The voting has closed, and two voters are to be chosen in a draw for tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or edition won the fan vote for the best Ballon d’Or winner of all time.
The vote was part of a special award called the B.O.A.T., organised by France Football, with UEFA also named as involved by Diario AS.
Lionel Messi’s 2012 edition finished second, while Ronaldo’s 2017 edition placed third.
The vote was open to fans and each vote cost one euro.
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 while playing for Manchester United.
- Who
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or edition won the vote, ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 edition.
- What
- Fans chose the best Ballon d’Or-winning edition of all time in a special B.O.A.T. vote.
- When
- The result was published on 28 October 2026. Voting had been open since early October.
- Where
- The vote took place on the Ballon d’Or website.
- Why
- The vote marked the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or trophy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The fan vote opened, with each vote costing one euro.
Voting closed, according to Diario AS.
The result was published, with Ronaldo’s 2008 edition in first place and Messi’s 2012 edition in second.
- Winner
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or edition
- Runner-up
- Lionel Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or edition
- Third place
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2017 Ballon d’Or edition
- Cost per vote
- One euro
- Ronaldo’s 2008 points
- 446, ahead of Messi’s 281 in that year’s Ballon d’Or voting
- Award anniversary
- 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or trophy