Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten longtime rival Lionel Messi to win the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) recognition, following a month-long public vote organised by France Football as part of the prestigious award’s 70th-anniversary celebrations, Pulse Sports and ESPN reported. Announced on October 28, 2026, the result recognised Ronaldo’s outstanding 2007/08 campaign with Manchester United as the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season in the history of the award. According to France Football and Manchester United, the 41-year-old forward finished ahead of Messi’s record-breaking 2012 campaign, securing another distinction in a rivalry that has defined an era of global football. The recognition was determined by supporters voting through the Ballon d’Or website rather than the traditional panel of international journalists.
Ronaldo’s winning season saw him score 42 goals across all competitions, helping Manchester United secure both the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles. He also finished as the Premier League’s leading scorer with 31 goals and collected the European Golden Shoe before claiming his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 at the age of 23. Messi finished second with his 2012 season, during which he scored a remarkable 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina across the calendar year. Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign secured third place, while Messi’s 2023 season finished fourth, further illustrating the dominance of the two football icons in the final voting results.
Despite the latest recognition, Messi remains the most decorated Ballon d’Or winner in history with eight titles, compared with Ronaldo’s five. The B.O.A.T. initiative was designed to identify the most impressive individual season among previous multiple-time Ballon d’Or winners, with ten legendary players eligible for consideration. Voting opened on October 1 and closed on October 27, with each ballot costing €1 and participants permitted to vote multiple times. Organisers clarified that the recognition does not constitute an additional official Ballon d’Or title and carries no physical trophy. Nevertheless, Ronaldo’s victory adds another milestone to his remarkable career, while reinforcing the enduring global appeal of one of football’s most celebrated rivalries.
