Cristiano Ronaldo Snatches Prestigious Ballon d'Or Glory Away From Rival Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo narrowly beat Lionel Messi to claim the Ballon d'Or of All Time (B.O.A.T), with his 2008 victory being crowned the greatest Ballon d'Or win in the award's history.

The iconic Ronaldo secured the first of his five Ballon d'Or victories in 2008 during his celebrated stint with Manchester United. That achievement has now been honored as the greatest Ballon d'Or triumph ever recorded.

Only players who have claimed multiple Ballon d'Or titles were eligible for the B.O.A.T. award, with each of their individual wins considered for the honor. Despite Messi holding the record for the most Ballon d'Or wins, it was Ronaldo's debut triumph that ultimately claimed the top spot.

The B.O.A.T. award was introduced by the Ballon d'Or organization this year. The outcome was determined by public votes, with participants required to pay €1 to cast their ballot. Voting commenced on Oct. 1, and fans had until Oct. 27 to make their selection.

Not to be mistaken for the Super Ballon d'Or, the B.O.A.T. was established to give fans a voice in determining the finest individual award victory among multiple-time Ballon d'Or recipients. Despite Ronaldo claiming the honor, no physical trophy exists for the B.O.A.T. award winner.

Just two days after Harry Kane received the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Ronaldo's 2008 win was officially recognized as the greatest of all time.

Cristiano Ronaldo 2008: The Best Ballon d'Or of All Time

Ronaldo pipped Messi and Fernando Torres to claim his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 at the age of 23, following a remarkable, trophy-laden season with Manchester United.

With Ronaldo serving as the focal point of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad, Man Utd captured both the Premier League and the Champions League titles in 2007–08.

The then-explosive winger lit up the Premier League and claimed the division's Golden Boot with 31 goals. He also contributed eight goals and two assists across 11 Champions League appearances, including a crucial strike that helped United ultimately overcome Chelsea in a penalty shootout in the competition's first-ever all-English final.

Ronaldo wrapped up the year with 42 goals across all competitions and collected the European Golden Boot. It was a remarkable campaign that cemented Ronaldo's standing as a future all-time great. He would go on to claim the award four additional times during his tenure at Real Madrid.

On Wednesday, it was announced that global fans had voted Ronaldo's 2008 triumph as the greatest in history, adding yet another honor to his already decorated career.

Ronaldo's 2008 victory edged out Messi's 2012 win—a year in which the Argentine set the record for the most goals in a single calendar year with 91. Ronaldo's final Ballon d'Or triumph in 2017 rounded out the podium. The two rivals combined for 13 Ballon d'Or victories, and 12 of those featured in the top positions of the B.O.A.T. voting rankings.

Best Ballon d'Or of All Time: Full Vote Results