On the occasion of the trophy's 70th anniversary, Cristiano Ronaldo was named the best Ballon d'Or in history by a public vote organized by France Football, ahead of Lionel Messi.
France Football magazine organized a vast public consultation to celebrate seven decades of the Ballon d'Or. This original initiative aimed to determine, according to readers' votes, the best winner in the history of this prestigious trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo came out the big winner of this ballot, beating notably the Argentine legend Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo's 2007-2008 season was decisive in this decision. The Portuguese striker had then shown exceptional form under the Manchester United jersey, scoring 42 goals across all competitions. This remarkable individual performance had allowed the Red Devils to win the Champions League and the English championship title. That year, Ronaldo had already been rewarded with his first Ballon d'Or, before winning four more during his career.
It is interesting to note that only 5,000 people participated in this vote. A relatively modest figure that raises questions about the representativeness of this ranking. Social networks and Ronaldo's supporter community largely contributed to this result, once again demonstrating the mobilizing power of digital platforms on such polls.
Lionel Messi, the record holder with eight Ballon d'Or awards, secured second place in this ranking. These two global football icons dominated the sport for nearly fifteen years, establishing a rivalry that significantly impacted football history. Their distinct career paths continue to spark passionate debates among fans and analysts.
The designation of Ronaldo as the best Ballon d'Or in history remains debatable. The methodology of this public vote significantly differs from traditional votes by specialized journalists. Each voter could only vote for a single candidate, without clearly established objective criteria, making this victory particularly symbolic.
Ronaldo's 2007-2008 season was decisive in this decision. The Portuguese striker had then shown exceptional form under the Manchester United jersey, scoring 42 goals across all competitions. This remarkable individual performance had allowed the Red Devils to win the Champions League and the English championship title. That year, Ronaldo had already been rewarded with his first Ballon d'Or, before winning four more during his career.
It is interesting to note that only 5,000 people participated in this vote. A relatively modest figure that raises questions about the representativeness of this ranking. Social networks and Ronaldo's supporter community largely contributed to this result, once again demonstrating the mobilizing power of digital platforms on such polls.
Lionel Messi, the record holder with eight Ballon d'Or awards, secured second place in this ranking. These two global football icons dominated the sport for nearly fifteen years, establishing a rivalry that significantly impacted football history. Their distinct career paths continue to spark passionate debates among fans and analysts.
The designation of Ronaldo as the best Ballon d'Or in history remains debatable. The methodology of this public vote significantly differs from traditional votes by specialized journalists. Each voter could only vote for a single candidate, without clearly established objective criteria, making this victory particularly symbolic.
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Source: Ouest-France