Cristiano Ronaldo 2008 campaign voted best Ballon d’Or by fans

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or campaign has been voted the best of all time by supporters in a public poll organized by France Football, edging out his rival Lionel Messi.

For nearly two decades, the definition of the Ballon d’Or was circumscribed to two names: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who combined for 13 trophies. That dominance extended into a special fan vote dubbed the B.O.A.T., where France Football asked supporters to choose the best among all players who had won the Ballon d’Or more than once.

How Fans Voted in the Ballon d’Or of All Time Poll

According to the organization, more than 5,009 people voted more than once, with participants receiving a historical photograph linked to the first edition of the Ballon d’Or. Within that group, 4,665 supporters voted between two and four times, 300 participants voted between five and nine times, and 44 cast between 10 and 26 ballots each. Each vote cost €1.

When the tallies were finalized, Ronaldo’s 2007/08 season claimed the top spot. That year saw the Portuguese forward score 42 goals in 49 games for Manchester United, guiding the club to a Premier League title, a Champions League crown, and a Club World Cup victory.

Where Lionel Messi and Other Legends Ranked

Lionel Messi’s 2011/12 campaign with Barcelona finished second in the voting. Ronaldo secured the third spot as well with his 2016/17 season at Real Madrid.

It required dropping down to the 13th position in the final standings to find a player outside of Ronaldo or Messi: Ronaldo Fenómeno in 2001/02 when Brazil was world champion.

Other historical greats managed to crack the top 20 of the Ballon d’Or of All Time classification, including Kevin Keegan (1979), Johan Cruyff (1974), Michel Platini (1984), Franz Beckenbauer (1976), and Marco van Basten (1988).