Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a commanding lead in a public vote celebrating the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning seasons in football history. His remarkable 2007–08 campaign with Manchester United has attracted 75% of the votes recorded in the latest figures released by the organisers, leaving Lionel Messi and other football legends far behind. But the poll, which closes on 27 October 2026, will not award another official Ballon d’Or.
The Ronaldo–Messi rivalry continues to capture the imagination of football fans, even when the debate turns to performances from years gone by. This time, the Portuguese star has emerged as the overwhelming favourite in a special initiative marking the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. According to the latest figures, Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph accounts for 75% of votes, compared with just 9% for Messi’s record-breaking year in 2012. It is a remarkable margin, although the results remain provisional.
Known as B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time), the campaign invites supporters to choose the greatest individual season ever recognised by the prestigious award. Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or, however, the outcome is not determined by a panel of football journalists. It is a public vote, with participants allowed to cast multiple ballots for a fee. That distinction is essential when interpreting the results.
Ronaldo’s unforgettable 2008 season dominates the vote
The latest standings published by the organisers show just how far ahead Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007–08 season has moved. The Portuguese forward commands 75% of the vote, while Lionel Messi sits in second place with his 2012 campaign on 9%. Remarkably, Ronaldo also occupies third place, with his 2017 Ballon d’Or-winning year attracting another 6%.
The figures represent a further increase for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose leading entry previously held 62% of the vote. However, with voting still open, the percentages could change before the final announcement. The results reflect the preferences of those taking part in this particular campaign, rather than an official verdict on football’s greatest player.
There is little mystery surrounding the appeal of Ronaldo’s 2007–08 season. Playing for Manchester United, he scored 42 goals in all competitions and played a decisive role in one of the club’s most successful campaigns. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side claimed both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League, while Ronaldo also secured the European Golden Shoe.
It was the season that established him among football’s undisputed elite. At just 23, Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or, years before becoming one of Real Madrid’s greatest-ever players. Four more awards followed in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, bringing his career total to five.
Why the Messi comparison continues to fascinate football fans
For nearly two decades, the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has shaped discussions about footballing greatness. Ronaldo built his reputation on explosive athleticism, extraordinary goalscoring consistency and success across several of Europe’s leading leagues. Messi, meanwhile, transformed expectations of what an attacking player could achieve through his creativity, technical brilliance and performances for Barcelona and Argentina.
Their individual records tell the story of an extraordinary era. Messi holds the official record with eight Ballon d’Or awards, while Ronaldo has won five. The October 2026 poll changes none of that, as it does not confer an additional award on the eventual winner.
Messi’s 2012 season is a particularly compelling entry. During that calendar year, the Argentine scored an astonishing 91 goals for club and country, setting a record that remains one of football’s most celebrated individual achievements.
The comparison therefore goes beyond the familiar question of which player is greater. It places two very different demonstrations of excellence side by side: Ronaldo’s trophy-laden 2007–08 campaign, defined by decisive performances on the biggest stages, and Messi’s extraordinary goalscoring feats throughout 2012.
Ten football legends compete for the all-time title
The initiative extends well beyond the two defining stars of modern football. Eligibility is restricted to players who have won the Ballon d’Or at least twice, bringing together some of the game’s most celebrated names across different generations.
Each award-winning season is treated as a separate entry, meaning the same player can appear more than once in the standings.
Alongside Ronaldo and Messi, the list includes Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Ronaldo Nazário. Each left a distinctive mark on football history, often under very different playing conditions, tactical systems and levels of competition.
Their inclusion highlights one of the enduring difficulties of football debates: how can performances separated by decades meaningfully be compared?
There is also an important qualification to the voting figures. Each vote costs €1, and supporters can vote as many times as they wish by paying for additional ballots. The percentages therefore represent the distribution of votes cast, not the proportion of individual football supporters who favour a particular player.
A highly motivated group of fans could consequently have a significant influence on the outcome.
The organisers stress that B.O.A.T. is a celebration designed for supporters rather than a new official sporting honour. Its winner will not receive an additional Ballon d’Or, and the result will have no bearing on previously awarded trophies.
Instead, the campaign offers football fans an opportunity to revisit remarkable seasons, celebrate their heroes and compare some of the defining achievements in the history of the game.
Voting closes on 27 October, with results announced the following day
Launched on 1 October 2026, the poll will remain open until Tuesday 27 October at 11:59 pm Paris time (10:59 pm in the UK).
Supporters wishing to participate must visit the official Ballon d’Or website, create an account and pay €1 for each vote. Participants also receive a digital photograph and an opportunity to win two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The final results are scheduled to be announced on Wednesday 28 October. Ronaldo currently holds a substantial lead, but the outcome cannot be considered definitive until voting closes.
The campaign forms part of a landmark year for the Ballon d’Or. Established by France Football in 1956, the award celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026, with an official ceremony scheduled for Monday 26 October at the London Palladium.
Organised jointly by France Football and UEFA, the event is being held in the British capital for the first time, a particularly symbolic setting given that England’s Stanley Matthews was the inaugural winner of the award.
Football fans will therefore learn the official 2026 Ballon d’Or winners before discovering, two days later, which historic season has captured the most support in the B.O.A.T. vote.
For now, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United masterpiece remains the clear favourite in a contest that has reignited one of football’s most enduring debates.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration depicting Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and several football legends alongside the Ballon d’Or trophy. Fictional scene.
