Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007-08 Manchester United campaign topped a France Football fan poll marking the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary, while paid multiple voting drew criticism.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s outstanding 2007-08 season with Manchester United has been voted the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning campaign of all time in a fan poll organised as part of celebrations marking the award’s 70th anniversary.
The Portuguese forward finished ahead of longtime rival Lionel Messi, whose record-breaking 2012 campaign placed second in the ranking. However, the poll has drawn criticism over its voting system, which reportedly charged participants €1 per vote and allowed multiple votes, raising questions about how fairly the results reflected fans’ footballing preferences.
France Football introduced the ranking to celebrate the prestigious individual award and invited supporters to select the best season among previous Ballon d’Or winners.
According to the reported figures, more than 5,000 people voted multiple times, prompting debate over whether the final standings reflected sporting achievement or the ability to pay for additional votes.
Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign claimed the top position, while Messi’s remarkable 2012 season finished second. Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign with Real Madrid secured third place.
Why Ronaldo’s 2008 season stood out
Ronaldo’s 2007-08 season marked a defining moment in his rise to global football stardom. Playing for Manchester United, he scored 42 goals across all competitions and helped the club win both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
His performances combined pace, aerial strength, finishing ability and an increasingly complete attacking game. His contribution to United’s success strengthened his position among the world’s leading players and culminated in his first Ballon d’Or victory in 2008.
The achievement also marked an important chapter in the emerging rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, whose individual records and performances would shape debates about football’s greatest players for years.
Messi’s second-place finish recognised his extraordinary 2012 campaign, when the Argentine scored 91 goals in a calendar year. The record remains one of the most celebrated individual scoring achievements in modern football.
Ronaldo’s third-place finish for his 2017 season with Real Madrid further highlighted the Portuguese forward’s sustained success at the highest level.
Paid voting raises questions
Despite the attention surrounding Ronaldo’s victory, the voting format has become a central point of discussion. Charging €1 per vote while permitting multiple submissions meant participants could potentially increase their influence by spending more.
Critics have questioned whether such a system provides a reliable comparison of players’ greatest seasons, particularly when voters are not restricted to one submission each.
The distinction is important: the recognition resulted from a public fan poll and was not an official Ballon d’Or or Super Ballon d’Or award.
While Ronaldo’s 2008 season remains a landmark in his career, the poll has renewed discussion about how football awards should measure supporters’ preferences. The comparison between Ronaldo’s trophy-winning campaign and Messi’s record-setting year is likely to remain a topic of debate among fans.
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