Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the greatest Ballon d'Or winner of all time following a public vote. The vote, which was part of the B.O.A.T. initiative launched by France Football on October 1, invited football supporters worldwide to vote for their favorite Ballon d'Or-winning campaign. Ronaldo's 2008 season with Manchester United received the most support, placing him ahead of Lionel Messi's record-breaking 2012 campaign.
Ronaldo's 2007/08 season at Manchester United is widely regarded as one of his best. During that season, he scored 42 goals across all competitions, with 31 of those coming in the Premier League. He claimed both the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe that year. His performances helped Manchester United secure a double success, lifting both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League trophy.
Messi's 2012 calendar year presented a formidable rival case. The Argentine registered 91 goals for club and country that year, setting a world record for goals scored in a single calendar year. Despite the magnitude of that achievement, the participating voters ultimately favoured Ronaldo's campaign. Messi finished in second place in the voting.
The result of the vote has been marred by controversy. Voting data from France Football showed that 5,009 participants cast ballots on more than one occasion. Of that group, 44 individuals voted between 10 and 26 times, 300 voted between five and nine times, and 4,665 submitted between two and four votes. The credibility of the vote has been questioned, with concerns raised about the impact of repeat voting on the final standings.
The B.O.A.T. initiative, which aimed to determine the greatest Ballon d'Or winner of all time, cost €1 to cast a vote. Without a full breakdown of votes per candidate or an official clarification on how duplicate entries were handled, the extent to which the outcome was influenced by repeat voting cannot be established. Ronaldo's win reflects the preferences of those who participated rather than a settled verdict on football's greatest Ballon d'Or winner.
The long-running debate between Ronaldo and Messi remains as open as ever. YEN.com.gh previously compared Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 Ballon d'Or-winning season with Lionel Messi's remarkable 2012 campaign, which earned him the award later that year. While Ronaldo combined individual brilliance with team success at Manchester United, Messi's extraordinary goalscoring record set a benchmark that remains unmatched.
The article was written by Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe, a CAF-accredited journalist with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He has covered several high-profile events, including the 2023 AFCON and grassroots competitions within Ghana. The vote's outcome has sparked a renewed discussion about the greatest Ballon d'Or winner of all time, with Ronaldo currently leading the way.
Key points
- Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 season with Manchester United earned him the top spot in the B.O.A.T. initiative.
- The credibility of the vote has been questioned due to concerns about repeat voting.
- Lionel Messi's 2012 campaign remains a strong rival case for the greatest Ballon d'Or winner of all time.
