Key Takeaways
- Cristiano Ronaldo thanked supporters after his 2008 Ballon d’Or win topped France Football’s all-time fan poll, writing on X, “Football belongs to the fans!”
- Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign took 75% of the vote, ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 season at 9% and Ronaldo’s 2017 win at 6%.
- France Football charged €1 per vote with unlimited repeat voting and clarified that the anniversary poll adds neither a physical trophy nor an official Ballon d’Or title.
Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating another historic achievement, but the soccer legend believes his latest honor belongs just as much to his fans.
The 41-year-old superstar took to X to thank supporters after his 2008 Ballon d'Or victory was voted the greatest in the award's 70-year history.
"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.
The message quickly gained traction on social media as fans celebrated the Portuguese forward's latest recognition. France Football introduced the special honor, known as B.O.A.T. (Best of All Time), to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or.
Unlike the traditional award, which recognizes the world's best player each year, the B.O.A.T. allowed fans to vote on the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season in history. Only players who had won the prestigious trophy multiple times were eligible.
Voting ran from Oct. 1 through Oct. 27, with supporters paying one euro per vote and no limit on how many votes they could cast.
According to Marca, Ronaldo's 2008 campaign dominated the results, receiving 75 percent of the vote. Lionel Messi's 2012 season finished second with nine percent, while Ronaldo's 2017 Ballon d'Or victory placed third with six percent.
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or after his remarkable 2007-08 season with Manchester United. At just 23 years old, he scored 42 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, including 31 Premier League goals. He also scored in the Champions League final against Chelsea, helping United capture the European title following a penalty shootout.
The achievement launched a historic run for Ronaldo, who went on to win four additional Ballon d'Or awards while playing for Real Madrid in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
During his time with the Spanish club, Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 appearances and helped Madrid win four Champions League titles. Portugal's Football Federation also celebrated the recognition, praising its national team captain.
"From 2008 to eternity. The greatest Ballon d'Or winner of all time is Portuguese. Congratulations, captain!" the federation wrote.
Despite the recognition, organizers clarified that the fan vote does not come with a physical trophy or count as an additional official Ballon d'Or victory.
"It is not about creating a new official award, but about enabling fans to share their choice and make their voices heard," organizers explained.
Ronaldo remains international men's soccer's all-time leading scorer with 143 goals in 225 appearances for Portugal and continues his pursuit of 1,000 career goals. His latest recognition comes just days after Harry Kane was named the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner at a ceremony in Paris.
