October 29, 2026
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, striker of Al-Nassr Saudi Club, sent a touching message of thanks to his fans around the world, after he was crowned the “Best Ballon d’Or winner in history” in a public referendum organized by the French magazine “France Football” in cooperation with the European Football Association (UEFA).
This referendum was part of an award created by both parties to determine the greatest Ballon d’Or winner in history, reserved for players who won the award at least twice.
Ronaldo’s legendary season in 2008 – when he won the first Ballon d’Or in his career with a Manchester United shirt – surpassed the season of his arch-rival Lionel Messi in 2012, in the poll titled “Best of All Time.”
Through his official account on social media, Ronaldo wrote: “Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world. The Golden Ball for the best in history is also yours,” stressing that this coronation comes as a result of the continuous support of his fans since the beginning of his career.
The 2008 season witnessed exceptional brilliance for the Portuguese star, as he scored 42 goals in 49 matches in various competitions, and led the “Red Devils” to win the English Premier League and European Champions League titles, in addition to being crowned top scorer in both tournaments.
At the conclusion of the poll, Lionel Messi’s season in 2012 – in which he scored a record 91 goals – came in second place, while Ronaldo’s season in 2017, in which he led Real Madrid to win the Champions League, came in third place.
