Cristiano Ronaldo Chosen as the Greatest Ballon d'Or Winner of All Time
Fans chose Ronaldo’s 2007-08 Manchester United season over Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign in a paid public vote marking the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary.
- Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 Ballon d'Or win was crowned the Greatest Ballon d'Or of All Time in a fan vote, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi's 2012 award.
- France Football invented the BOAT award to identify the greatest Ballon d'Or winner among players who earned the honor at least two times, with fans serving as the jury instead of journalists.
- Supporters paid about $1.10 per vote to participate, with organizers raffling two tickets for the 2027 gala. Voting irregularities emerged, as 4,665 people voted between two and four times.
- Messi, who has won the Ballon d'Or a record eight times, finished second for his 2012 performance, while Ronaldo claimed two of the top three spots with his 2017 award ranking third.
- The BOAT award remains a unique experiment in fan engagement by France Football, as results reflect paid participation rather than definitive expert consensus on the greatest Ballon d'Or winner.
248 Articles
248 Articles
Cristiano Ronaldo Edges Lionel Messi and Dedicates Prestigious Award to Fans
Cristiano Ronaldo has added another special achievement to his decorated career, but this time, his victory comes with a familiar name behind him. The Portuguese superstar has edged long-time rival Lionel Messi to win the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) award. Yet, instead of focusing on beating Messi, Ronaldo had a special message for the fans who made it possible. After the announcement, Ronaldo shared an emotional message on Instagra…
[Sports Chosun Reporter Noh Joo-hwan] "Football belongs to the fans." Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nassr) expressed his gratitude to fans around the world after being selected as the winner of the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time,' beating his longtime rival, Argentina's Lionel Messi, in a global fan vote. On the 30th, he posted on his social media, "Football belongs to the fans
연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency
korean-vibe.com(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Oh Myung-eon = Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) has surpassed his longtime rival Lionel Messi (Argentina) to be voted the 'greatest of all time' by football fans...
Portugueseman Cristiano Ronaldo shared a message on his social networks, with a possible “palito” for Argentine Lionel Messi, after winning the vote for the Golden Ball of all time. “Football belongs to fans! Thanks to all fans from all over the world, the Golden Ball of all [...]
Cristiano Ronaldo pips Lionel Messi in Ballon d'Or BOAT award as fans have their say on greatest all-time winner
Throughout their time as football rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were neck-and-neck at the top of the global game. They played out one more head-to-head battle in a new fan award.
Portuguese star's 2007-08 season at Manchester United voted best among previous Ballon d'Or-winning campaigns
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