Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Inaugural BOAT Award for Best Ballon d'Or Season

Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by winning the inaugural BOAT (Ballon d'Or of All Time) award, with his outstanding 2008 season recognized as the best in football history. This new accolade, introduced by France Football, allows fans to vote digitally, making it a unique addition to the traditional Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo edged out Lionel Messi, showcasing the ongoing rivalry between the two football legends. The award has sparked significant interest, with thousands of fans participating in the voting process. Discover more about this exciting development in the world of football and the implications it has for the sport's greatest players.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 29, 2026, 08:14 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo Crowned BOAT Award Winner

In a significant announcement from New Delhi, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the first-ever recipient of the BOAT (Ballon d'Or of All Time) award, following an overwhelming response from fans globally. His remarkable 2008 season with Manchester United has been recognized as the finest individual year in the history of football's most esteemed accolade.

The BOAT award, introduced by France Football, aims to fuel discussions surrounding football greatness. After Harry Kane, the England and Bayern Munich star, received the Ballon d'Or, Ronaldo was honored with the BOAT award. This new accolade was created to determine which Ballon d'Or season is considered the greatest.

Ronaldo triumphed over his longtime competitor, Lionel Messi, to claim this award. Voters appeared to favor CR7's inaugural Ballon d'Or victory over Messi's record-setting 91-goal season in 2012, which remains unmatched, as reported by Goal.com.

Unlike the traditional Ballon d'Or, which is decided by a panel of esteemed international journalists, the BOAT award allowed fans to cast their votes digitally. The nomination list included multiple-time Ballon d'Or winners such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, and Franz Beckenbauer, along with Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano and Brazilian superstar Ronaldo Nazario.

To participate, fans were required to pay a nominal fee of one euro to vote. To incentivize engagement, the organizers entered all voters into a draw for two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The initiative proved popular, with thousands of fans participating; over 5,000 individuals voted multiple times to ensure their preferred player or campaign emerged victorious.

Ronaldo and Messi dominated the rankings, filling the top 12 positions. Brazil's Ronaldo Nazario, with his 2002 Ballon d'Or win, was the only player to break their streak, finishing in 13th place.