Ronaldo Beats Messi To Win First-Ever B.O.A.T. Award

• Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has edged long-time rival Lionel Messi to win the first-ever B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time) award, with fans voting his 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign as the greatest in the history of the prestigious individual football honour.

• Ronaldo’s remarkable 2007-08 season secured 75 per cent of the votes, putting him comfortably ahead of Messi’s 2012 campaign, which finished second with just nine per cent of the total votes cast by football fans.

• Ronaldo’s outstanding performances during the 2007-08 campaign saw him score 42 goals in all competitions and inspire Manchester United to Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory, cementing his status as one of the finest players of his generation.

• Despite Messi’s record eight Ballon d’Or titles compared to Ronaldo’s five, the two football legends occupied all 12 positions in the final voting rankings. Ronaldo secured four places in the top five, while Messi’s 2012 campaign finished second, followed by Ronaldo’s 2017 triumph in third place.

October 28, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo has pipped Lionel Messi to the inaugural B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time), according to the organisers.

The B.O.A.T. award is for players who have won the Ballon d’Or award twice or more, allowing football fans to vote for the greatest winner in the history of the award.

The initiative is aimed at allowing fans to revisit historic Ballon d’Or campaigns and vote for the season from those in which each legend won the award.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi join the list of legends such as Ronaldo Nazario, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stefano have won the prestigious award twice or more.

Two days after the Ballon d’Or award ceremony in London, the organisers announced Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner of the award on Wednesday.

Football fans voted Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph as the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in history.

In the 2007-08 campaign, The Portuguese captain enjoyed a stunning season for Manchester United, leading the club to the Premier League and Champions League glory, while also scoring 42 goals in all competitions.

READ ALSO:

• JUST IN: Kane Beats Mbappe, Yamal To Win 2026 Ballon d’Or Award
• BOAT vs Super Ballon d’Or: What’s The Difference?

Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or triumph came second in the voting, with the two footballing greats comprising the entire top 12 of the final vote.

Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph received an extraordinary 75% of the votes, comfortably ahead of Messi’s 2012 campaign on 9%.

According to the French outlet, 5,009 people voted more than once. 44 people voted between 10 and 26 times; 300 people voted between 5 and 9 times and 4,665 people voted between 2 and 4 times. Casting a vote required a fee of €1 per entry.

Lionel Messi won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award eight times, while Cristiano Ronaldo emerged victorious five times.

Messi won his last award in 2022 after leading Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar, while Ronaldo last emerged as the winner in 2017.

Final BOAT standings – top 10

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2008
2. Lionel Messi – 2012
3. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2017
4. Lionel Messi – 2023
5. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2016
6. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2014
7. Lionel Messi – 2015
8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2013
9. Lionel Messi – 2011
10. Lionel Messi – 2009

Taiwo Ibrahim, THEWILL

• 24 Copa Del Rey Matches Postponed After Fatal Train Crash
• Carrick, Fernandes Hold Clear-The-Air Meeting Ahead Of Chelsea Clash
• Arsenal Set To Appeal Dowman’s Red Card
• Arteta Reacts as Arsenal Suffer Shock League Cup Exit Against Fleetwood Town