Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal has been honored as the 'Greatest Ballon d'Or' by a fan vote.
According to France Football, the organization that awards the Ballon d'Or, Ronaldo's performance in 2008, when he won his first Ballon d'Or, was selected as the top choice by fans.
Lionel Messi's performance in 2012, when he won the Ballon d'Or, came in second.
Notably, 13 of the top 14 rankings were dominated by the years Ronaldo and Messi won the award, highlighting their overwhelming popularity.
Meanwhile, the only spot in the top 14 not occupied by either Messi or Ronaldo was claimed by Ronaldo Nazário, regarded as one of the greatest players of the 1990s.
This vote was conducted among players who have won the Ballon d'Or more than twice, and multiple votes were allowed.
On social media on October 30, Ronaldo expressed his gratitude, stating, "Football belongs to the fans. I thank all fans around the world. The honor of being the greatest Ballon d'Or is also yours."
Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times in total, with his first award in 2008 marking a standout year. During the 2007-2008 season, he scored 31 goals in the English Premier League with Manchester United, leading the team to the league title. He also contributed eight goals and two assists in the UEFA Champions League, finishing the season with a total of 42 goals across all competitions.
Messi, the record holder with eight Ballon d'Or awards, led his team to victories in the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup during the 2011-2012 season. He scored 50 goals in La Liga and 14 in the Champions League, totaling 73 goals in official matches that year.
This year, the 2026 Ballon d'Or was awarded to England's Harry Kane. Messi ranked fifth in this year's voting, while Ronaldo has not been nominated since 2022.
Additionally, the top 20 of the 'Greatest Ballon d'Or' fan vote included legendary players such as Ronaldo Nazário, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Marco van Basten, and Alfredo Di Stéfano.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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