Football belongs to the fans: Ronaldo’s message after beating Messi in BOAT vote

Cristiano Ronaldo has dedicated his Ballon d’Or All-Time (BOAT) fan vote win to fans around the world after his Manchester United campaign in 2008 saw him beat Lionel Messi’s record-breaking 2012 season to take the top spot.

Striker Al-Nassr thanked the fans for their support in a post on X, saying that football belongs to them and it is their honor to share. He saw the result Ronaldo finished first in the initial pollwith Messi second and Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign third. “Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon D’Or of All Time is yours too,” Ronaldo wrote on X.

WHY RONALDO’S 2008 SEASON WON THE VOTING

Ronaldo enjoyed one of the defining seasons of his career in 2007-08, scoring 42 goals in all competitions for Manchester United. He helped the club win both the Premier League and the Champions League, scoring in the final of the latter against Chelsea.

He also finished as the Premier League’s top scorer with 31 goals and won his first Ballon d’Or later that year. The award recognized his impact during a campaign in which he combined goal-scoring with pace, aerial power and the ability to decide big games.

Messi’s 2012 campaign offered formidable competition. The Argentine scored 91 goals for club and country during the calendar year, setting a record that remains one of football’s most remarkable individual achievements. He also won his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or in January 2013.

HOW THE SHIP FAN VOTING WORKED

The Ballon d’Or of All Time initiative invited fans to select the Ballon d’Or winner’s best campaign. Unlike the traditional award, which is decided by an international panel of journalists, this poll was based on a public vote.

The list featured several legends of the game, including Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan and Franz Beckenbauer. Alfredo Di Stefano and Brazilian Ronaldo Nazario were also among the nominees.

Voting was said to cost one euro per ballot. Organizers also offered attendees the chance to enter a raffle for two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Ronaldo and Messi occupied the first 12 positions in the final ranking and thus underlined their dominance in the poll. Ronaldo Nazario finished 13th in his 2002 Ballon d’Or campaign, making him the highest-ranked player outside the two rivals.

A RIVALRY THAT CONTINUES TO ENSURE THE FANS

Ronaldo and Messi have won a combined 13 Ballon d’Ors, with the Portuguese forward winning five and the Argentine eight. Their sustained success at club and international level has made their comparison a defining feature of modern football.

The BOAT result reflects the preferences of those who took part in the poll, rather than providing a definitive answer to the debate about football’s greatest player. However, Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign, ending before Messi’s extraordinary 2012, offers another measure of the sustained interest in their careers.

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