Cristiano Ronaldo Celebrates Victory Over Lionel Messi in BOAT Vote
Cristiano Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi in the vote for the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season of all time. The Portuguese superstar had a special message for the fans who helped him claim the honor.
Cristiano Ronaldo has another achievement to celebrate. The Portuguese superstar finished ahead of Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or of All Time (BOAT) vote, with fans choosing his remarkable 2008 season as the greatest among the award's historic winners. On Thursday, October 29, Ronaldo took to social media to share a message of appreciation.
"Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world. The Ballon d'Or of All Time is yours too!" Ronaldo wrote, dedicating the recognition to the supporters who backed him in the vote organized by France Football.
His 2008 Ballon d'Or-winning season claimed the top spot, beating Lionel Messi's extraordinary 2012 campaign. Ronaldo also finished third with his 2017 season, giving the Portuguese forward two of the three highest-ranked entries.
What Is the Ballon d'Or of All Time?
The BOAT (Ballon d'Or of All Time) is a special fan vote organized by France Football to determine the greatest individual Ballon d'Or-winning campaign in soccer history. Rather than comparing entire careers, supporters were asked to choose between specific seasons that earned players the prestigious award.
The candidates included legendary names such as Ronaldo Nazário, Johan Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer and Marco van Basten. Voting cost one euro per entry, and fans could cast multiple votes. According to published figures, 5,009 participants voted more than once.
Unlike the traditional Ballon d'Or, the BOAT is a symbolic fan-voted distinction, rather than an award decided by the journalists who select the annual winner.
Why Ronaldo's 2008 Season Stood Out
The winning campaign remains one of the defining chapters of Ronaldo's career. At just 23 years old, he scored 42 goals in 49 appearances for Manchester United during the 2007–08 season.
He helped United win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, while his 31 league goals earned him the Premier League Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe. Those performances also secured the first of his five Ballon d'Or awards.
The season established Ronaldo among the world's elite players and set the stage for his eventual move to Real Madrid in 2009.
Ronaldo and Messi Dominate the Rankings
The latest vote offered another chapter in the long-running rivalry between two of soccer's greatest players. Ronaldo and Messi occupied all ten of the top positions, with five Ballon d'Or-winning campaigns from each player making the list.
Ronaldo's 2008 and 2017 seasons finished first and third, while Messi secured second place for 2012, the year he scored an astonishing 91 goals across all competitions for club and country.
Messi still leads the official Ballon d'Or count with eight awards to Ronaldo's five, but this fan vote handed the Al Nassr forward a symbolic victory that he was eager to celebrate with his supporters.
Key Facts Behind Ronaldo's BOAT Win
- Cristiano Ronaldo won the BOAT vote for his 2008 Manchester United campaign, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi's 2012 season.
- Ronaldo thanked fans on social media, dedicating the recognition to supporters around the world.
- France Football organized the paid fan vote, which recognized the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season rather than an entire career.
