C. Ronaldo’s 2008 award – the best Ballon d’Or of all time

2026-10-29 10:08 © ZUMAPRESS.com

Until the beginning of this week, ordinary fans and journalists had been voting for the best Ballon d’Or of all time among those that had been won.

The 2008 Ballon d’Or won by Cristiano Ronaldo was ultimately recognized as the best such award.

It was the Portuguese player’s first Ballon d’Or, awarded after an outstanding season with Manchester United, when he managed to triumph on all the major fronts, including the Champions League.

In the Champions League final, the Red Devils defeated Chelsea in a penalty shootout.

The Ballon d’Or won by Lionel Messi in 2012 came second.

🚨✨ OFFICIAL: Ballon d’Or announce Cristiano Ronaldo 2008 has been voted as the BEST BALLON D’OR OF ALL TIME. 🌕 https://t.co/gr3nYytkiu

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2026