Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable 2008 season has been voted the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning campaign in history following a fan poll organised by French magazine *France Football*.
The Portuguese superstar topped the magazine’s Ballon d’Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) initiative, which invited football fans to select the most outstanding individual season among multiple winners of the prestigious award.
Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign finished ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 season, while Ronaldo’s 2017 triumph secured third place. Messi’s 2023 campaign ranked fourth, followed by Ronaldo’s 2016 victory in fifth position.
Ronaldo earned his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 after an outstanding season with Manchester United, scoring 42 goals across all competitions and helping the club win both the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
He also finished as the Premier League’s top scorer with 31 goals and claimed the European Golden Shoe, establishing himself as one of the world’s leading footballers.
The 2008 award was the beginning of Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or success. He went on to win the honour four more times, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, taking his total to five.
Messi, meanwhile, holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or victories. His 2012 campaign remains particularly memorable after he scored a record 91 goals for club and country across the calendar year.
The B.O.A.T. poll focused on individual award-winning seasons rather than comparing the players’ entire careers. It brought together celebrated football legends from different generations, allowing supporters to decide which campaign they considered the greatest.
However, the poll is a fan-driven initiative and not a new official Ballon d’Or trophy. The traditional award continues to be decided through its established voting process involving specialist journalists.
Ronaldo’s victory in the poll further highlights the lasting impact of his performances during his Manchester United days and the enduring debate surrounding his rivalry with Messi.
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