Ronaldo named greatest Ballon d’Or winner in history in controversial poll

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo was named the “Greatest Ballon d’Or Winner in History” in a poll organised by the official Ballon d’Or website, a result that has sparked considerable controversy.

Voting was not free, as France Football, the magazine behind the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony, charged €1 per vote. Participants were also entered into a prize draw for two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The French magazine revealed that 5,009 people voted more than once. Of these, 44 cast between 10 and 26 votes, 300 voted between five and nine times, and 4,665 voted between two and four times.

Lionel Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or-winning season finished second, prompting criticism from his fans, who argued that allowing individuals to vote multiple times undermined the fairness of the result.

An exceptional year for Messi

Many consider 2012 one of the greatest individual years in football history. Messi scored 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina in the calendar year, breaking the long-standing record of 85 goals set by German legend Gerd Müller in 1972.

The Portuguese Football Federation, Real Madrid and Manchester City were among those who congratulated Ronaldo on the result. Ronaldo, meanwhile, stressed that his focus remained on hard work and dedication in training.

Widespread debate

Spanish newspaper Marca reported that the poll had opened a new chapter in the long-running rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi.

The competition did not take place on a football pitch but through a large-scale vote to determine which Ballon d’Or-winning season had the greatest impact. The initiative invited fans to select the most outstanding performances from a curated list of legendary players who had won the prestigious individual award.

The contest generated intense debate from the outset, with supporters of different eras putting forward compelling arguments for their favourites.

Despite the inclusion of all-time greats such as Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Johan Cruyff, the spotlight once again fell on the rivalry that has defined much of the past 15 years: Ronaldo at his peak versus Messi at his best. Fans from around the world turned out in large numbers to support their preferred stars.

Full results

The official Ballon d’Or website announced the final results of its “B.O.A.T.” initiative, an acronym for “Ballon d’Or of All Time”.

Ronaldo’s 2008 season claimed first place, followed by Messi’s 2012 campaign in second and Ronaldo’s 2017 season in third. Messi’s 2023 season finished fourth, while Ronaldo’s 2016 campaign took fifth place.

Ronaldo’s 2014 season ranked sixth, followed by Messi’s 2015 campaign in seventh and Ronaldo’s 2013 season in eighth. Messi’s 2011 and 2009 seasons completed the top 10, finishing ninth and 10th, respectively.

Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign was recognised after a remarkable season in which he scored 42 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, helping Manchester United win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

He scored 31 league goals to claim the Premier League Golden Boot and added eight goals in the Champions League, including one in the final against Chelsea. Manchester United eventually won the final on penalties in Moscow.

The historic 2008 season that captivated fans

In its report, Marca highlighted Ronaldo’s first spell at Manchester United as a key factor behind his popularity in the poll.

During the 2007-08 season, the Portuguese forward delivered outstanding performances, combining physical strength, dazzling dribbling and clinical finishing to help the English club secure both the Premier League and Champions League titles.

His 31 league goals played a crucial role in Manchester United’s domestic success and helped him win the first of his five Ballon d’Or awards in 2008.

Nearly two decades later, some fans believe that Ronaldo’s performances that season surpassed even Messi’s extraordinary 2012 campaign, when the Argentine shattered the calendar-year scoring record.

The organisers clarified that the initiative was not an official ceremony recognised by FIFA and did not offer any additional material prize beyond the announced ticket draw. Nevertheless, the results quickly attracted widespread attention across international sports media.