Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi in the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) fan vote, with his 2008 award-winning season at Manchester United finishing ahead of Messi’s remarkable 2012 campaign.

The result gives Ronaldo another milestone in his long-running rivalry with Messi, although the vote focused on their individual Ballon d’Or-winning seasons rather than deciding who is the greatest footballer of all time.

Organised by France Football, the initiative invited supporters to select the greatest campaign among players who had won the prestigious individual award multiple times. Ronaldo’s 2008 season claimed first place, Messi’s 2012 campaign finished second, and Ronaldo’s 2017 season secured third.

Why Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Season Won

Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or victory followed an outstanding 2007-08 campaign with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Portuguese forward scored 42 goals across all competitions, including 31 in the Premier League, helping United win both the English league title and the UEFA Champions League. His performances also earned him the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe.

Ronaldo played a decisive role in United’s European campaign and scored in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. United eventually lifted the trophy after winning the penalty shootout.

The season established Ronaldo as one of the world’s leading footballers and marked the beginning of his collection of five Ballon d’Or awards.

Nearly two decades later, that campaign has received the highest recognition in the B.O.A.T. public vote.

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Lionel Messi’s Record-Breaking Season Finishes Second

Messi finished runner-up with his 2012 campaign, a year remembered for his extraordinary goalscoring achievements with Barcelona and Argentina.

The Argentine scored 91 goals across club and international football during the calendar year, setting a record that remains one of the most remarkable individual feats in the sport.

During the 2011-12 season, Messi scored 73 goals in all competitions for Barcelona, including 50 in La Liga. Although Barcelona did not win the league title that season, his individual performances were exceptional.

Messi has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, compared with Ronaldo’s five. However, the B.O.A.T. vote assessed individual winning campaigns, meaning each player’s award-winning year competed as a separate entry.

Ronaldo and Messi Dominate the Final Rankings

The final results underline the influence both players have had on modern football. Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign topped the list, followed by Messi’s 2012 season and Ronaldo’s 2017 victory. Other highly ranked campaigns included Messi’s 2023 and 2015 wins, alongside Ronaldo’s 2016, 2014 and 2013 victories.

The initiative celebrates the Ballon d’Or’s history but does not constitute an additional official Ballon d’Or award. Its outcome reflects the preferences expressed through the public vote rather than a definitive verdict on the greatest player in football history.

However, the result adds another chapter to a rivalry that has defined an era of the sport, with his memorable Manchester United campaign receiving the most votes in this celebration of football’s greatest individual seasons.