Ronaldo Leads Ballon d’Or Greatest Season Fan Vote

Cristiano Ronaldo's first Ballon d’Or-winning campaign is dominating a fan poll to identify the greatest individual season in the award's history, with the Portuguese forward's 2008 performances receiving 62% of votes. Launched by the official Ballon d’Or platform in early October, the international competition compares winning seasons from 10 multiple-time recipients ahead of the October 26, 2026, ceremony in London. Lionel Messi's 2012 campaign ranks second with 13%, while his 2023 season has attracted 9%, according to figures published by Marca and The Daily Star on October 20.

Ronaldo's 2007 campaign has received 7%, and his 2016 season has collected 2%. The contest evaluates specific award-winning seasons rather than asking supporters to choose the greatest footballer overall. The 10 eligible players are Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo Nazário, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stéfano.

According to reports from The Times of India and The Real Media, voting is scheduled to close at midnight on October 27, with the results expected on October 28. The competition operates separately from the traditional Ballon d’Or award, which uses an international jury of journalists to determine its winners.

Organizers allow participants to cast multiple votes, including repeated votes for the same candidate, at a cost of €1 per vote. The format has drawn attention because the leaderboard reflects participation in a paid public poll rather than a formal assessment by the award's traditional jury. Ronaldo's leading campaign came during his time at Manchester United in 2007-08. According to The Times of India, he scored 42 goals across all competitions and helped the English club win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

He also scored in the Champions League final against Chelsea, although Manchester United secured the European title through a penalty shootout. The performances earned Ronaldo his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 and established the campaign as a central part of his individual award record. Messi's second-place entry represents his record-setting 2012 calendar year. The Daily Star reported that the Argentine scored 91 goals in 69 matches that year and won his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or, while his 2023 entry reflects his role in Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar.

Messi's 2023 campaign also included domestic honors with Paris Saint-Germain. According to The Daily Star, he recorded 21 goals and 20 assists in 41 appearances while winning Ligue 1 and the French Super Cup. Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times, with victories in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Messi has claimed the award eight times, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023, according to The Times of India. The Times of India reported that Ronaldo first received a nomination in 2004 and has accumulated 18 nominations, compared with Messi's 17. Ronaldo has not returned to the 30-player shortlist since 2022 and now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Separate career statistics cited by Marca place Ronaldo above 980 goals in more than 1,300 appearances, while Messi has surpassed 935 goals in more than 1,100 official appearances. Both players continue pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals as the fan poll approaches its October 27 deadline.