22 publishers · first seen Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:39 UTC · updated Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:05 UTC
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the winner of the Ballon d'Or of all time award, following a fan vote organised by France Football. His 2008 Ballon d'Or-winning season, during which he helped Manchester United win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, received the most votes. Lionel Messi's 2012 campaign, in which he scored 91 goals, finished second in the poll. Ronaldo's 2017 season came third, while Messi's 2023 victory was fourth.
The award, known as the BOAT, was introduced to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or and invited fans to select the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season. Voting took place from October 1 to October 27 and required a fee of one euro per vote. The top 12 positions were dominated by performances from Ronaldo and Messi, with only players who had won the Ballon d'Or more than twice eligible for inclusion.
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