Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary 2007-08 season has beaten Lionel Messi’s record-breaking 2012 campaign in the fan vote for the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) award. But while the recognition adds another special achievement to his decorated career, the Portuguese superstar had a message for the fans who made it possible.
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After the announcement, Ronaldo shared an emotional message on Instagram. “Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon D’Or of All Time is also yours,” Ronaldo wrote on his Instagram.
His message came after a month-long global voting process. Fans voted for the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season in football history. Ronaldo’s 2008 season with Manchester United finished ahead of Messi’s brilliant 2012 campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated individual football awards for more than a decade. Their rivalry has given fans many memorable moments. Both players have also set incredible records throughout their careers.
The first-ever BOAT Award added another chapter to their rivalry. Ronaldo’s 2008 season at Manchester United received the most votes. According to the social media influencer and commentator Daniel Regha, the season got 75% of the votes.
Messi’s 2012 campaign received just 9% of the vote. However, that year remains one of the finest individual seasons in football history, with the Argentine scoring a staggering 91 goals in a calendar year. This record still stands as one of the biggest achievements in the sport.
However, the BOAT voting did not focus only on goal records. It asked fans to judge the overall impact of each Ballon d’Or-winning season.
The award also followed a different voting system from the traditional Ballon d’Or. An international group of journalists usually decides the Ballon d’Or winner. However, fans from around the world decided the BOAT winner through online voting.
This made the result even more interesting because football supporters had the final say. Ronaldo’s victory recognized his brilliant 2007-08 season with Manchester United.
The Portuguese forward enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career. He helped the English club win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
He scored 42 goals in all competitions and provided eight assists. His performances made him one of the most dangerous attacking players in European football.
Cristiano Ronaldo also won several individual awards for his performances. He claimed the Premier League Golden Boot, the Champions League top-scorer award and the European Golden Shoe. He also received the Premier League Player of the Season, PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
His outstanding performances earned him his first Ballon d’Or in 2008, capping a season in which he dominated both club and individual honors. The BOAT award has now added another achievement to that season.
BOAT Award: Fan voting format sparks debate over Ronaldo’s victory
France Football introduced the BOAT award as a special one-time initiative. Its aim was to find the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season in football history.
The voting system was different from the traditional Ballon d’Or process. Fans could vote online by paying one euro for each ballot. The organizers also gave participants a chance to enter a prize draw. The winner could receive two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
However, the voting system also faced criticism. Reports suggested that more than 5,000 fans voted multiple times to help their favorite player or season finish on top.
The option to cast multiple paid votes raised questions about the voting process. Some people questioned whether the result truly reflected footballing performances or the strength of a player’s fan base.
Critics also felt that the system could favor players with bigger and more active fan bases. This became an important point in the Ronaldo-Messi contest. Both players have some of the biggest fan followings in world sport.
The shortlist also included several iconic Ballon d’Or winners, such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, and Alfredo Di Stefano.
Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario also featured on the list.
Ronaldo and Messi, however, dominated the rankings, claiming all 12 of the top spots between them. Their streak was finally broken by Ronaldo Nazario, whose 2002 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign landed him in 13th place. The rankings highlighted the lasting influence of the two modern greats on football fans.
Fans ultimately chose Ronaldo’s 2008 season over Messi’s 2012 season as the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning campaign.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, the award gave him another reason to celebrate his career. But his Instagram message showed that he also wanted to share the moment with the fans who have supported him throughout his journey.
His words, “Football belongs to the fans!”, captured the spirit of the award, recognizing the supporters who make the sport what it is. After all, the game’s biggest moments would mean little without the fans who follow and celebrate them.