Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or Voted Best of All Time in France Football Fan Poll

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or has been voted the best of all time

Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic 2008 Ballon d’Or season has been voted the greatest of all time in France Football’s B.O.A.T. fan poll, edging out Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign.

Ronaldo’s Manchester United 2008 season voted best Ballon d’Or in history...

In a special fan poll organised by France Football (the Ballon d’Or organisers) to mark the award’s 70th anniversary, Cristiano Ronaldo’s breakthrough 2008 triumph was crowned the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in history.

The initiative, called B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or Of All Time), invited supporters to choose the standout campaign among players who had won the Golden Ball at least twice. Eligible names included Lionel Messi (eight wins), Ronaldo (five), Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ronaldo Nazário and others. Voting was open to the public (with a small fee per vote) and the results were announced around the 2026 Ballon d’Or period.

Ronaldo’s 2008 season came out on top, ahead of Messi’s record-breaking 2012 campaign. Ronaldo also claimed third place with his 2017 win, underlining the enduring popularity of his peak years. The top ranks were almost entirely dominated by the two modern greats.

Why 2008 stands out

The 2007-08 season remains one of the most complete individual campaigns of the modern era. Still only 23, Ronaldo was the driving force behind Manchester United’s Premier League and Champions League double under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Key numbers and achievements:

42 goals in all competitions for United (including 31 in the Premier League).

• Premier League Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe winner.

• Champions League winner (United beat Chelsea on penalties in the Moscow final).

A host of individual honours: PFA Players’ Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and more.

Ballon d’Or voting was emphatic: 446 points from 96 journalists, well clear of Messi (281) and Fernando Torres (179). He appeared on every ballot and received 77 first-place votes.

It was the season in which the dazzling, high-energy winger fully transformed into a relentless goal threat while still producing moments of pure skill. Many fans still regard that version of Ronaldo explosive, fearless and decisive on the biggest stages  as his purest peak.

The B.O.A.T. award

This was a fan-voted special recognition rather than an official new “Super Ballon d’Or” or a journalists’ ranking. It sits alongside the main annual award as a celebration of the prize’s history. The fact that supporters overwhelmingly chose Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or over Messi’s 91-goal 2012 calendar year (and several other legendary seasons) says a lot about how that Manchester United campaign is remembered.

🚨✨ OFFICIAL: Ballon d’Or announce Cristiano Ronaldo 2008 has been voted as the BEST BALLON D’OR OF ALL TIME. 🌕 https://t.co/gr3nYytkiu

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2026

The Ronaldo–Messi debate never really ends. One side points to pure numbers and longevity; the other highlights specific seasons of dominance and team success. In this particular poll, the public put 2008 at the very top.

Nearly two decades later, that golden year at Old Trafford still resonates. For many, it remains the moment a generational talent announced himself as one of the greatest of all time and now the fans have officially agreed.