Ronaldo's 2008 Ballon d'Or voted best by fans over Messi

A fan poll conducted on the official Ballon d'Or website identified Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 victory as the most significant award won by a multiple-time recipient. The results, released Wednesday evening, ranked this specific triumph as the "Best of All Time" (B.O.A.T.) among voters who chose which year held the greatest meaning for them.

Details of Ronaldo's 2008 Season

Ronaldo secured his first Ballon d'Or at age 23 following a dominant 2007/08 campaign with Manchester United. During that season, he helped the Red Devils claim both the English league title and the Champions League, marking his first European club crown. His individual statistics included 42 goals and nine assists across all competitions, earning him top scorer honors in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Voting Results and Rankings

This 2008 win, the first of five for Ronaldo, placed him ahead of former rival Lionel Messi in the fan vote. Messi’s 2012 triumph secured second place, while Ronaldo’s 2017 win finished third. The two players monopolized the top 12 positions in the ranking. Ronaldo Nazario became the first player outside this duo to appear on the list, placing 13th for his 2002 award.

Current Status of Both Stars

Ronaldo has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia since early 2023. The 41-year-old striker is currently pursuing a career milestone of 1,000 goals, having reached 982 so far. Meanwhile, Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final during the summer and remained a leading contender in this year's Ballon d'Or voting. The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward finished fifth in that recent vote, trailing Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and newly crowned winner Harry Kane.