Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning season has been voted the greatest in the history of the prestigious award following a fan poll organised as part of the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
The Portuguese football icon emerged as the winner of the inaugural B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time) vote, beating Argentine superstar Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign to claim the top position.
The result was announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after voting closed on Tuesday.
Ronaldo’s remarkable 2007/2008 season with Manchester United earned him the recognition following an outstanding campaign in which he scored 42 goals across all competitions, helping the English club win both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
His performances also earned him the European Golden Shoe after scoring 31 goals in the Premier League, before he received his first Ballon d’Or in December 2008.
Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign finished second in the poll, while Ronaldo’s 2017 season secured third place.
The B.O.A.T. initiative was introduced to allow fans to select the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in football history from a list of legendary players who had won the award multiple times.
Other campaigns featuring football greats were also included in the competition, highlighting memorable individual achievements across different generations.
However, the recognition is a fan-voted distinction and does not represent an additional official Ballon d’Or trophy.
Ronaldo, who has won the traditional Ballon d’Or five times, remains one of the most decorated players in football history.
