Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or win is leading a fan vote to find the greatest Ballon d’Or winner ever, getting 75 percent of the votes so far.
The organizers shared this news in a post on the official Ballon d’Or website on Tuesday. They said voting will stay open until October 27. The final results will be announced on October 28.
This poll, called the Greatest Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT), asks fans to pick the best Ballon d’Or-winning performance in the history of this famous football award.
According to the organizers, Lionel Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or win is in second place with nine percent of the votes. Ronaldo’s 2017 win is third with six percent.
This means Ronaldo has two of the top three spots in the ongoing poll.
“Ronaldo’s 2008 season with Manchester United saw him win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.
“He also claimed the European Golden Shoe and scored 42 goals across all competitions,” the organizers said.
The 2008 Ballon d’Or was Ronaldo’s first win of this award. Messi’s 2012 win came in a year where the Argentine scored 91 goals for his club and country. This record still stands today.
Other past winners in the poll include Ronaldo Nazário, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, and Alfredo Di Stéfano. The organizers noted that these legendary players have a small share of the votes compared to the front runners.
They clarified that the BOAT initiative is a public vote that celebrates fans’ love for football and is not an official trophy.
They also said the results could still change before voting ends on October 27, with the final results set to be released the next day.
Fans can vote on the official Ballon d’Or website. Participants will get a photo of the first Ballon d’Or awarded in 1956 and will enter a draw for a ticket to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The organizers concluded, “Voting is available at https://ballondor.com/vote.”
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