# Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or Just Beat Messi’s Best, According to the Fans

URL: https://technosports.co.in/cristiano-ronaldos-2008-ballon-dor/  
Published: 2026-10-29  
Updated: 2026-10-29  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Ask any football fan to settle the Messi vs Ronaldo debate and you’ll start an argument that lasts until sunrise. Now there’s fresh fuel. **Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or** has been voted the greatest edition of the award in history, edging out Lionel Messi’s 2012 triumph.

### What Is the B.O.A.T. Award?

France Football introduced a one-off honour called **B.O.A.T., or Greatest Ballon d’Or of All Time**. Voting closed at midnight on October 27, 2026, and the result was announced on October 28, just two days after the latest [Ballon d’Or](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_d%27Or) ceremony.

Here’s the clever part. Fans weren’t voting for a player’s whole career. They were voting for **one specific winning season**. That meant supporters could pick a single Ronaldo or Messi masterpiece rather than simply backing their favourite player.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/10/Cris-45.avif)

### Cristiano Ronaldo Result

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| Award | B.O.A.T. (Greatest Ballon d’Or of All Time) |
| Winner | Cristiano Ronaldo, 2008 |
| Runner-up edition | Lionel Messi, 2012 |
| Next on the list | Ronaldo Nazário, 2002 |
| Voting closed | October 27, 2026 |
| Result announced | October 28, 2026 |
| Who voted | France Football readers and online users |
| Cost per vote | €1 |

Messi and Ronaldo dominated the top positions, while Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário’s 2002 win came next.

### Who Was on the Shortlist?

Only players with **at least two Ballon d’Or wins** qualified. That gave us a stacked list of football royalty:

- **Lionel Messi:** eight wins
- **Cristiano Ronaldo:** five wins
- **Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten:** three each
- **Ronaldo Nazário, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Alfredo Di Stéfano:** two each

### Wait, Fans Paid to Vote?

Yes, and that’s the twist people are talking about. Each vote cost **one euro**, and voters also entered a draw for two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony. According to the French publication, **5,009 people** voted more than once:

- 44 people cast between 10 and 26 votes.
- 300 people voted between five and nine times.
- 4,665 people voted between two and four times.

So this was part popularity contest and part fan passion project, with a little revenue on the side.

### Why 2008 Still Feels Special?

Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or came during his Manchester United days, and it launched one of the great individual careers in the sport. Winning the B.O.A.T. title for that very first trophy says a lot. Fans clearly remember the explosive, fearless version of him that announced himself to the world.

Of course, this was a fan vote, not a verdict from journalists or experts, so don’t expect it to end the debate. Messi supporters will point to his eight awards, and the argument will roll on.

Want more football buzz and Ronaldo stories? Check out the latest on [Technosports](https://technosports.co.in/) and our [football news](https://technosports.co.in/) section for daily updates.

### FAQs

Q1. Which Ballon d’Or was voted the greatest ever?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 win took the B.O.A.T. title, ahead of Messi’s 2012.

Q2. Who could vote for the B.O.A.T. award?

Fans and online users could, at €1 per vote.