UEFA and France كرة القدم have unveiled a new accolade named the BOAT (Best of All Time), aimed at identifying the greatest Ballon d’Or winner among players who have secured the award at least twice. This initiative engaged fans in a paid voting process, where each ballot cost €1 (approximately $1.10).
Emerging victorious in this unique fan poll was Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 2008 Ballon d’Or win—achieved while playing for Manchester United—was voted the greatest individual Ballon d’Or moment of all time. Ronaldo’s achievement stands as his first of five Ballon d’Or titles, placing him ahead of several other football legends.
Lionel Messi, who holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or awards, secured second place for his 2012 triumph. Notably, Ronaldo also earned third place with his 2017 victory, marking two of his Ballon d’Or wins among the top three fan choices.
Ronaldo’s Historic 2008 Victory in Focus
The 2008 Ballon d’Or saw Cristiano Ronaldo finish ahead of Messi and الإسبانية striker Fernando Torres, marking the beginning of his illustrious run in the award’s history. Following this initial win, Ronaldo claimed the prestigious title four المزيد times—in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017—all during his tenure at Real Madrid.
Voting for the BOAT award concluded between الثلاثاء and الأربعاء on the official Ballon d’Or website, where fans had the opportunity to cast their ballots for their favorite multiple-time Ballon d’Or winners.