A public vote launched on October 1 determined that Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 campaign with Manchester United was the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season in the award's history. Ronaldo beat out Lionel Messi's 2012 season, which was a standout year for the Argentine forward. The vote was part of a fan-driven initiative called B.O.A.T., which invited football supporters globally to select the finest individual Ballon d'Or-winning season.
The B.O.A.T. initiative was designed to give supporters a platform to recognise and debate the individual campaigns they regard most highly, framing the conversation around on-pitch performance rather than cumulative career achievement. The platform operates entirely on public voting and carries no official recognition from France Football or any governing body. Ronaldo's 2008 campaign was highlighted for his dominance, registering 42 goals across all competitions and helping Manchester United secure both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo's 2008 season also saw him collect the Ballon d'Or itself and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, completing one of the most decorated individual campaigns in football history. He was the first Manchester United player to win the Ballon d'Or since George Best claimed it in 1968. The poll also highlighted the sustained excellence of both Ronaldo and Messi across multiple award-winning years, with Ronaldo placing three of his Ballon d'Or-winning campaigns within the top five of the overall rankings.
Messi secured two entries in the top five, with his 2012 and 2023 seasons being recognised. The vote underlined that the rivalry between the two forwards extends beyond individual trophies to encompass several of the most celebrated seasons the sport has ever produced. Ronaldo's historic 2008 campaign was a key factor in his victory, with his 31 league goals earning him the Premier League Golden Boot and his eight goals in the Champions League making him the top scorer.
The B.O.A.T. initiative gave supporters a unique opportunity to recognise and debate the individual campaigns they regard most highly. The poll was launched on October 1 and invited football supporters globally to select the finest individual Ballon d'Or-winning season. The result was unveiled, showing that Ronaldo had beaten out Messi to win the top spot.
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on Cristiano Ronaldo's 980 career goals compared with Lionel Messi's 934, following the Portuguese star's strike in Al-Nassr's 3-0 victory over Al-Diriyah on October 9. The milestone leaves Ronaldo just 20 goals shy of his ambitious 1,000-goal target, while Messi has reached his tally in 161 fewer appearances.
The public vote was conducted by B.O.A.T., a fan-driven initiative that invited football supporters globally to select the finest individual Ballon d'Or-winning season. The result was a testament to Ronaldo's enduring legacy in the sport, with his 2008 campaign being recognised as one of the greatest of all time.
Key points
- Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 campaign with Manchester United was voted the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season of all time.
- Ronaldo beat out Lionel Messi's 2012 season in the public poll.
- The B.O.A.T. initiative was a fan-driven effort that invited supporters to recognise and debate individual Ballon d'Or-winning seasons.
