Cristiano Ronaldo has added another achievement to his career, but this time, his long-time rival Lionel Messi finished behind him. The Portuguese superstar has won the first-ever Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) award. However, the result has also started a debate about the voting system, as Ronaldo won by a huge margin. Amid the discussions, Ronaldo shared a special message for the fans who helped him win the award.

“Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon D’Or of All Time is also yours,” Ronaldo wrote on social media.

The former Real Madrid forward shared this message after winning the fan-voted award for the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season in football history. His 2008 season with Manchester United finished ahead of Messi’s incredible 2012 campaign.

While Cristiano Ronaldo had another reason to celebrate, the voting numbers raised questions about the award. Many wondered whether the result showed the players’ performances or the power of their huge fan bases.

Cristiano Ronaldo Beats Lionel Messi by a Huge Voting Margin

Cristiano Ronaldo defeated Messi by a huge margin in the reported voting results. The Portuguese superstar received 75% of the votes, while the Argentine finished a distant second with just 9%.

The difference was massive, especially when we consider what both players achieved during their careers.

Messi’s 2012 campaign remains one of the greatest individual seasons in football history. The Inter Miami forward scored 91 goals across all competitions during that calendar year. This record still shows just how dangerous he was in front of goal.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, had an outstanding 2007-08 season. He scored 42 goals for Manchester United across all competitions and helped the club win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

Both players had strong cases for winning the award. However, the fans picked Ronaldo’s 2008 season over Messi’s record-breaking year.

The 75%-9% voting result also became a major talking point. While it showed Ronaldo’s strong support, the voting system was different from a normal poll where every person gets only one vote.

Daniel Regha Questions the BOAT Award Voting System

The huge gap between Ronaldo and Messi’s voting percentages caught the attention of social media commentator Daniel Regha.

Regha questioned whether the voting numbers truly showed the players’ popularity or performances. His concern was that fans had to pay to vote and could also cast multiple votes.

He pointed out that Ronaldo’s 75% share would have been much more impressive if each person could vote only once without paying.

Regha also shared his view on why Messi finished so far behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He suggested that Messi’s fans might not have felt the same need to vote because the Argentine has already won almost every major award in football.

His comments added another angle to the discussion. Instead of looking at Ronaldo’s victory as another result in the GOAT debate, he questioned whether Messi’s supporters had less reason to take part in the voting.

However, this is only Regha’s opinion. It does not confirm why individual fans decided to vote or stay away from the poll.

Also, it is important to understand that the result does not mean 75% of football fans believe Ronaldo’s 2008 season was better than Messi’s 2012 campaign. It only shows the result of a voting system where fans could buy multiple votes.

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Why Did the BOAT Award Face Criticism?

France Football introduced the BOAT award as a special one-time event to find the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning season in football history.

Unlike the regular Ballon d’Or, which an international group of journalists decides, fans had the power to choose the winner through online voting.

However, there was one major difference in the voting process. Each vote cost one euro, which meant supporters had to pay to cast their votes.

The organisers also gave fans another reason to participate. People who voted could enter a lucky draw to win two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Although the award attracted a lot of attention, its voting system also faced criticism.

Reports suggested that more than 5,000 fans voted multiple times to help their favourite player or season finish at the top.

Allowing fans to buy extra votes raised questions about fairness. Someone willing to spend more money could cast more votes than someone who wanted to vote only once.

This made the award different from a normal popularity poll.

The voting system also made the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi even more important. Both players have millions of supporters around the world. Their fans follow them across different countries and have supported them throughout their careers.

As a result, the number of fans willing to pay and vote became an important part of the final result.

The criticism was not necessarily about whether Ronaldo deserved the recognition. His 2008 season was clearly special. Instead, people questioned whether this voting system was the right way to decide the greatest individual season in football history.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi Dominated the BOAT Award Shortlist

The BOAT award shortlist featured several legendary footballers who made their mark on different generations.

It included Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer and Alfredo Di Stefano.

Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario also made the shortlist.

However, the final rankings once again showed the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. The two modern superstars occupied the top 12 positions between them.

Ronaldo Nazario’s 2002 Ballon d’Or-winning season finally ended their run, as he finished 13th.

The rankings show Ronaldo and Messi still dominate football discussions, even as they near the final stages of their careers.

Their rivalry has shaped an entire generation of football. They have competed for major trophies, broken individual records and won some of the biggest awards in the sport.

The BOAT award gave fans another chance to compare their greatest seasons. However, the voting system has made the final result a topic of debate.

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Why Ronaldo’s 2007-08 Season Was So Special

There is a strong reason why Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign received this recognition.

At Manchester United, the Portuguese forward played a key role in one of the club’s most successful seasons.

He scored 42 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions during the 2007-08 season. His performances helped Manchester United win the Premier League. The club then defeated Chelsea in the Champions League final to lift another major trophy.

Ronaldo also won several individual awards during the same campaign.

He finished as the Premier League Golden Boot winner, the Champions League’s top scorer and the European Golden Shoe winner. He also received the Premier League Player of the Season, PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

His performances eventually earned him his first Ballon d’Or in 2008.

That victory was especially important because it started his battle with Messi for football’s biggest individual awards.

However, Messi’s 2012 campaign was equally special. His 91 goals in a single calendar year remain a historic achievement. It showed his incredible ability to score goals throughout the year.

CONCLUSION

Both players delivered greatness in different ways. Ronaldo combined his goalscoring performances with success in two major competitions, while Messi produced one of the greatest scoring records football has ever seen.

In the end, the fans selected Ronaldo’s season.

From his early days at Manchester United to his success at Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr, Ronaldo has built a huge global fan base. His supporters have celebrated his records, trophies and individual achievements over the years.

The BOAT award has now added another special moment to his career.

However, this award has also shown how difficult it can be to settle football’s biggest debates through online voting. Ronaldo has won the recognition, but Messi’s achievements and the questions around the voting system mean the discussion is far from over.

For Ronaldo, though, the message was simple. He won the award, but he believes his fans deserve to celebrate the achievement with him.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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