Former Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked football fans around the world after winning the inaugural Ballon d'Or of All Time (BOAT) award, saying the recognition also belongs to them.
“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 Social media handles.
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The Portuguese international received the honour following a global fan vote, with his 2008 season at Manchester United recognised as the greatest individual Ballon d'Or-winning campaign of all time.
The BOAT award was introduced by France Football as a one-off honour to identify the most iconic Ballon d'Or-winning season in history.
The initiative added another chapter to the long-running debate over football's greatest players.
The award was presented after England captain Harry Kane secured the 2026 Ballon d'Or, following which fans voted to determine which Ballon d'Or-winning campaign stood above all others.
Cristiano Ronaldo Beats Lionel Messi For BOAT Award
Ronaldo edged out his long-time rival Lionel Messi to claim the inaugural BOAT award. Voters appeared to favour the Portuguese forward's first Ballon d'Or-winning season in 2008 over Messi's remarkable 2012 campaign.
Messi's 2012 season remains one of the most memorable in football history. The Argentine scored a record 91 goals in a calendar year, but his campaign finished behind Ronaldo's 2008 season in the fan voting.
Unlike the traditional Ballon d'Or, which is decided by a panel of international journalists, the BOAT award was determined entirely through online fan voting.
BOAT Award: Which Players Featured On The Shortlist?
The shortlist included several legendary Ballon d'Or winners from different eras of football.
Among those featured were Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Alfredo Di Stefano and Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario.
Ronaldo and Messi dominated the rankings, occupying the top 12 positions between them. The run was eventually broken by Ronaldo Nazario's 2002 Ballon d'Or-winning campaign, which finished 13th.
BOAT Award: Fans Paid One Euro To Vote
Fans were required to pay a one-euro fee to cast their votes for the BOAT award. As an added incentive, participants were entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
The initiative attracted considerable interest, with thousands of supporters taking part in the voting process. More than 5,000 fans reportedly voted multiple times in an attempt to help their preferred player or campaign finish on top.
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Ronaldo's victory adds another distinction to his career and reinforces his place in the debate over football's greatest players, with fans ultimately choosing his 2008 campaign as the most iconic Ballon d'Or-winning season of all time.
Ronaldo's Achievements in The 2007/08 season
- Won the Premier League
- Won Champions League
- Scored 42 goals
- Privided 8 assists
- Won Premier League Golden Boot
- Champions League Top Scorer
- European Golden Shoe
- Premier League Player of the Season
- PFA Players' Player of the Year
- FWA Footballer of the Year
- UEFA Club Footballer of the Year
- FIFA World Player of the Year
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