Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo’s 2008 Season Voted Best in History

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign has been voted the greatest in the history of the prestigious football award.

The Portuguese forward emerged winner of the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) poll organised to mark the award’s 70th anniversary.

The result was announced on Wednesday after fans voted for their favourite Ballon d’Or-winning season in a poll that opened on October 1 and closed on October 27.

Ronaldo’s 2007/08 season with Manchester United topped the rankings, ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign, which finished second. Ronaldo’s 2017 season came third, while Messi’s 2023 campaign placed fourth.

Ronaldo’s 2016 season completed the top five.

During the 2007/08 campaign, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions for Manchester United, including 31 in the Premier League and seven in the UEFA Champions League.

He helped United win both the Premier League and Champions League titles, scoring in the final against Chelsea. His performances earned him the European Golden Shoe and his first Ballon d’Or later in 2008.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward went on to win the award four more times, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, taking his tally to five.

Messi, meanwhile, holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins, with eight.

The BOAT poll was introduced by France Football as part of activities marking seven decades of the award. It allowed fans to select the best campaign among players who had previously won the Ballon d’Or multiple times.