Ronaldo Wins Inaugural BOAT Award Beating Messi In Fan Vote
· Sports · Times of India, Indian Express
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the inaugural winner of the BOAT (Ballon d'Or of All Time) award, with fans voting his 2008 Manchester United season as the greatest individual campaign in Ballon d'Or history. The award, introduced by France Football, used a digital fan-vote process rather than the traditional journalist panel. Ronaldo defeated Lionel Messi, whose 91-goal 2012 calendar year remained the previous benchmark, in a voting process that attracted over 5,000 multi-vote participants. The final rankings saw Ronaldo and Messi occupy the top 12 positions, with Brazil's Ronaldo Nazario breaking the pair's dominance at 13th place. Participants paid one euro per vote, with voters entered into a prize draw for two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Why it matters
The fan-driven verdict settles a long-standing debate between the two football icons, affirming Ronaldo's 2008 Manchester United campaign as the most celebrated Ballon d'Or-winning season according to supporter preference. The result adds a new chapter to the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry and validates the growing role of fan influence in football's individual honours.
Read the original report — Times of India
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