Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the greatest Ballon d’Or winner of all time after his 2008 award-winning season topped a public poll organised by France Football to celebrate the prestigious award’s 70th anniversary.
The Portuguese football star emerged victorious ahead of his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, whose 2012 season finished second. Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign came third, Messi’s 2023 season placed fourth, while Ronaldo’s 2016 campaign completed the top five.
Ronaldo’s winning season came during the 2007/08 campaign at Manchester United, where he scored 42 goals across all competitions, including 31 in the Premier League and seven in the UEFA Champions League. He helped the club win both the Premier League and Champions League, scoring in the Champions League final against Chelsea.
The victory earned Ronaldo his first Ballon d’Or, an award he has won five times throughout his career.
The initiative, known as the Ballon d’Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.), allowed fans to vote for the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in football history, with eligible players selected from multiple-time winners of the award.
Top Five Ballon d’Or of All Time Rankings
- Cristiano Ronaldo — 2008
- Lionel Messi — 2012
- Cristiano Ronaldo — 2017
- Lionel Messi — 2023
- Cristiano Ronaldo — 2016