Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) has claimed the top spot in the Greatest Ballon d’Or of All Time fan vote, edging out his long-standing rival Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).
As reported by Anadolu Agency on Friday, France Football, the magazine behind the Ballon d’Or, conducted a fan poll that crowned Ronaldo’s 2008 award-winning season as the most outstanding performance.
This online poll, which ran for about a month, was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. Fans were tasked with selecting the player who delivered the most exceptional performance among past Ballon d’Or winners’ trophy-lifting seasons.
Ronaldo secured first place for his stellar performance during the 2007-08 season with Manchester United.
That year, he netted 31 goals in the English Premier League (EPL), clinching the top scorer title and spearheading his team’s championship run.
He was also instrumental in Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) triumph, contributing 8 goals. His total tally for the season across all official competitions reached an impressive 42 goals.
This remarkable campaign earned Ronaldo his first Ballon d’Or in 2008. He went on to add four more to his collection, amassing a total of five awards.
Messi, Ronaldo’s perennial rival, secured the runner-up spot in the fan vote for his performance during his 2012 Ballon d’Or-winning season with Barcelona.
In the 2011-12 season, Messi showcased his extraordinary goal-scoring prowess, netting an astonishing 73 goals in official matches. He left the football world in awe, scoring 50 goals in La Liga and 14 in the UCL.
These heroics led to Messi claiming the 2012 Ballon d’Or, pushing his record-breaking tally to eight awards to date.
Following the announcement of the poll results, Ronaldo took to social media to express his gratitude: Football belongs to the fans. Thank you to supporters worldwide. The honor of the greatest Ballon d’Or is yours as well.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also congratulated Ronaldo on social media, stating: From 2008 to eternity. The greatest Ballon d’Or winner is Portuguese. Congratulations, Captain.
It’s worth noting that this fan poll, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, does not affect the official Ballon d’Or award records.