Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten long-time rival Lionel Messi to win the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) award, with his 2008 award voted the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning campaign in history.
The Portuguese forward was recognised following a fan vote organised by France Football, which invited supporters to rank the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning seasons. The results were announced on Wednesday.
Ronaldo’s maiden Ballon d’Or award came in 2008 after a remarkable 2007/08 season with Manchester United, during which he scored 42 goals in all competitions and helped the club win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner finished ahead of Messi’s 2012 campaign, which took second place. Ronaldo’s 2017 triumph finished third, underlining the dominance of the two football greats in the fan vote.
The B.O.A.T. award was introduced this year to identify the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season. Only players who had won the prestigious award multiple times were eligible, with their respective winning campaigns considered separately.
Voting opened on October 1 and closed on October 27, with fans paying pound 1 per vote. The results were announced two days after the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, where England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the men’s award.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times, in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Messi remains the record holder with eight victories.
Ronaldo’s 2008 season was a defining moment in his career. At Manchester United, he won the Premier League Golden Boot with 31 league goals and scored in the Champions League final against Chelsea, which Man United won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Moscow.
The final B.O.A.T. rankings placed Ronaldo and Messi in the top 12, with Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign leading the list and Messi’s 2012 season in second place.
The award recognises the best Ballon d’Or-winning campaign through a public vote; it is separate from the annual Ballon d’Or, which honours the player judged to have delivered the outstanding performance of the year.