Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Ballon d’Or of All Time in Global Fan Vote
Cristiano Ronaldo has secured the symbolic ‘Ballon d’Or of All Time‘ following a worldwide public vote celebrating the 70th anniversary of the prestigious award. The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward defeated long-time rival Lionel Messi in the poll, with voters selecting his stellar 2008 campaign with Manchester United as the ultimate standout winning performance.
🚨 OFFICIAL:Cristiano Ronaldo 2008 has been OFFICIALLY voted as the BEST BALLON D’OR OF ALL TIME. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/UQf1qUJTqV
The recognition highlights a career-defining year in which Ronaldo scored 42 goals across all competitions, leading Manchester United to a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double. The public vote pitted ten players who had won the award at least twice against each other, ultimately narrowing the choice down to Ronaldo’s 2008 run over Messi’s historic 2012 campaign.
Ronaldo Dedicates Milestone Honor to Global Fanbase
Following the announcement, Ronaldo took to social media to express his gratitude to the supporters who participated in the anniversary vote. The veteran forward emphasized that the achievement belongs to the supporters who backed him throughout his career.
“Football belongs to the fans!” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon D’Or of All Time is also yours.”
The public poll underscored the enduring rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, who have dominated the Ballon d’Or landscape for over a decade. While Messi holds eight actual Ballon d’Or trophies to Ronaldo’s five, this specific 70th-anniversary fan vote leaned toward the Portuguese star’s peak English-club era.
Return to Saudi Pro League Duties With Al Nassr
With the anniversary celebrations concluded, Ronaldo’s focus returns to domestic competition in Saudi Arabia. The forward remains active in the Saudi Pro League, where he continues to feature regularly for Al Nassr.
Ronaldo pursues further milestones in the closing chapters of his career, maintaining his sights on adding to his team’s trophy cabinet and reaching a career target of 1,000 professional goals before retirement.
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