Cristiano Ronaldo wins the B.O.A.T. award, and the football world is arguing about it all over again. Of every Ballon d’Or season in history, fans have crowned his 2008 campaign the greatest of them all. Some blessings arrive late, and this one arrived with fireworks.
What Is the B.O.A.T. Award?
B.O.A.T. stands for Ballon d’Or of All Time. France Football introduced it to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. The vote was open to the public and featured every player who had won the Ballon d’Or at least twice. The result was announced on Wednesday on the award’s official website.
How the Final Ranking Played Out
It was a two-man race, as expected. Messi’s 2012 season took second place, and Ronaldo’s 2017 season came third. Ronaldo and Messi shared the top 12 places between them, and Ronaldo Nazario was the best of the rest in 13th for his 2002 season.
The vote itself had a twist. Each ballot cost one euro, and more than 5,000 people voted multiple times, with 44 of them casting between 10 and 26 votes. Fan loyalty, apparently, comes with a price tag.
Why Ronaldo’s 2008 Season Won
Go back to 2008 and you will understand. Ronaldo was only 23 when he won his first Ballon d’Or. That year he won the Premier League, the Champions League and the European Golden Shoe with Manchester United. He became the first United player to win the award since George Best, 40 years earlier, and only the third Portuguese winner after Eusébio and Luís Figo.
The margin in the original vote was no accident either. Ronaldo collected 446 points to Messi’s 281 in 2008. That is not a close finish. That is a statement.
The Fine Print Every Fan Should Know
Before the celebrations get out of hand, here is the honest part. This is not an official trophy, and Ronaldo has not won a sixth Ballon d’Or. The result came from a paid fan vote rather than a journalist panel, which is how the regular Ballon d’Or is decided. Critics are already calling it a popularity contest, and they have a point. Supporters will answer that popularity at this scale is its own kind of greatness.
What It Means for the Ronaldo vs Messi Debate
Nothing settles this argument, and nothing ever will. Still, bragging rights matter. Ronaldo has beaten his old rival in a poll where Messi’s 2012 season, one of the most celebrated individual years ever, finished second. For Ronaldo fans, that is a Sunday sermon and a victory lap rolled into one.
Key Takeaways
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or won the first B.O.A.T. vote.
- Messi’s 2012 season finished second.
- The vote was a paid public poll, not an official award.
- Ronaldo’s 2008 treble of league, Champions League and Golden Shoe powered the result.
The debate rolls on, and so will we. Keep it locked on ShapHub Sport Blog for every twist in the greatest rivalry football has ever known.
You can also check out our YouTube for more sport news @ShapHub
