Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign has emerged as the winner of the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) fan poll, beating Lionel Messi’s historic 2012 season in a public vote organised to mark the 70th anniversary of the prestigious football award.

The result, announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, places Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or triumph at the top of the fan-selected ranking of outstanding award-winning seasons. His achievement came during his time at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the leading players in world football.

According to reports, Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign had attracted 75 per cent of the votes in the latest published standings before voting closed. Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or campaign ranked second with nine per cent, while Ronaldo’s 2017 victory occupied third place with six per cent. The final result confirms Ronaldo’s 2008 season as the public’s preferred choice.

The Portuguese forward enjoyed a remarkable 2007–08 season, scoring 42 goals across all competitions as Manchester United won both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

Ronaldo scored 31 league goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe. He also finished as the Champions League’s leading scorer with eight goals, including one in the final against Chelsea in Moscow.

Manchester United eventually won the final on penalties after a 1–1 draw, securing another European title under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ronaldo’s individual performances earned him the 2008 Ballon d’Or, making him the third Portuguese player to win the honour after Eusébio and Luís Figo. He finished ahead of Messi and Liverpool forward Fernando Torres in the voting.

The award was the first of Ronaldo’s five Ballon d’Or victories, which he later added to in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Messi’s 2012 campaign, meanwhile, remains one of the most remarkable goalscoring years in football history. The Argentine recorded 91 goals for club and country across the calendar year, setting a record that continues to define his career. He won the Ballon d’Or for a fourth consecutive time that year.

The BOAT poll brought together ten legendary footballers who had won the Ballon d’Or at least twice. Other contenders included Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Ronaldo Nazário.

Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or, which is decided through a voting process involving football journalists, the BOAT initiative allowed supporters to select their preferred winning season through a public vote. Participation required a payment of €1 per vote, with voters permitted to cast multiple ballots.

The organisers clarified that the initiative was designed to celebrate football fans’ passion and was not a new official award or a revival of the Super Ballon d’Or, which was awarded once to Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1989.

Ronaldo’s victory in the poll does not change the official Ballon d’Or record. Messi remains the record holder with eight wins, compared with Ronaldo’s five.

The outcome nevertheless highlights the enduring appeal of Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign, a season that combined individual scoring achievements with major domestic and European honours.

The poll also renews attention on the long-running rivalry between the two football icons, whose achievements have shaped discussions about individual excellence in modern football.