Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign topped a fan poll organised by French magazine France Football. The results of the B.O.A.T. initiative, short for Ballon d’Or of All Time, were announced on Wednesday.
Supporters selected the greatest award-winning season among players who had claimed the Golden Ball at least twice. Ronaldo’s first triumph finished ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s own 2017 success ranked third.
Ronaldo secured the 2008 award after an outstanding year with Manchester United. He scored 42 goals in all competitions and helped the club win both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he finished as the Premier League’s top scorer with 31 goals and claimed the European Golden Shoe.
The original vote awarded him 446 points from 96 journalists. Lionel Messi finished second in that ballot. Consequently, the fan poll reinforced the status of that campaign among supporters worldwide.
France Football invited fans to vote on the official platform. The initiative remained a public exercise rather than an official trophy. Reports indicated Ronaldo’s 2008 season received around 75 per cent of the votes. Messi’s 2012 effort followed with nine per cent, while Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign took six per cent.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared the outcome on X. The announcement came two days after the main 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Ronaldo’s early success at Manchester United therefore stood out in the final ranking.
