Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007–08 season with Manchester United commands more than 60 percent of the global public preference in France Football’s newly launched B.O.A.T. poll, leading all historical campaigns among multiple Ballon d’Or winners, LANCE! reported.
The online consultation, titled Ballon d’Or of All Time, challenges voters to select the finest individual season from players who have claimed the prestigious golden trophy at least twice. As the public tally unfolds, the Portuguese player’s historic year—which culminated in his first career Ballon d’Or—sits ahead of celebrated campaigns by Lionel Messi, Ronaldo Nazário, Zinedine Zidane, Marco van Basten, and Johan Cruyff.
The Rules and Realities of the B.O.A.T. Poll
France Football clarified that the interactive public consultation will not generate any physical trophy, official record, or formal recognition for Cristiano Ronaldo. Organizers also confirmed the initiative holds no connection to the upcoming 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Ronaldo is not listed among the nominees for this year’s primary award, while Lionel Messi maintains the all-time lead with eight trophies to Ronaldo’s five.
The ballot restricts its finalist pool strictly to players who have captured the world player of the year honor on multiple occasions. The eligible contenders span ten legendary figures across decades of football history:
- Lionel Messi: 8 titles
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 titles
- Johan Cruyff: 3 titles
- Michel Platini: 3 titles
- Marco van Basten: 3 titles
- Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2 titles
- Franz Beckenbauer: 2 titles
- Kevin Keegan: 2 titles
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: 2 titles
- Ronaldo Fenômeno: 2 titles
Voting remains open until 7:59 p.m. Brasília time on October 27, 2026, on the organizer’s official platform. Participants must register an account and pay a fee of one euro—approximately R$ 5.60—per ballot cast, with multiple submissions permitted through additional payments. Beyond supporting their preferred player, voters enter a draw to win a pair of tickets to the 71st Ballon d’Or gala scheduled for 2027.
Ronaldo leads race for greatest Ballon d'Or winning season of all time pic.twitter.com/2xPAajiQXU
Historical Precedent of the Super Ballon d’Or
While the contemporary B.O.A.T. operates as a commercial, digital engagement exercise for supporters, France Football awarded a genuine physical Super Ballon d’Or once before in December 1989. That historic honor recognized the most exceptional player of the preceding three decades.
The 1989 vote brought together a specialized jury, former winners of the award, and the magazine’s readership. Alfredo Di Stéfano emerged victorious from that ballot, outpolling competitors such as Michel Platini and Johan Cruyff. Non-European players, including Pelé and Diego Maradona, were ineligible for consideration at that time because the Ballon d’Or rules restricted candidates exclusively to European nationalities until 1995.
Timeline for the Final Result Announcement
The public participation window closes on October 27, 2026, at 7:59 p.m. Brasília time. France Football scheduled the formal announcement of the winning campaign for October 28.
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