Ronaldo’s outstanding 2007/08 season with Manchester United topped the Ballon d’Or Of All Time initiative, known as B.O.A.T. His 2017 Ballon d’Or winning campaign also claimed third place, giving the Portuguese forward two spots among the top three.
Messi’s 2012 campaign finished second, while his 2023 season also featured among the leading entries. The results have renewed the long running debate over which of the two football icons produced the greatest individual season.
However, the outcome reflects the preferences of participating fans rather than an official or definitive judgment on football history.
Ronaldo’s remarkable season at Manchester United
Ronaldo was only 23 when he delivered one of the finest campaigns of his career during the 2007/08 season. He scored 42 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, helping Manchester United, under Sir Alex Ferguson, win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
His development from a skilful winger into a ruthless goalscorer was particularly evident that season. Combining pace, dribbling, aerial strength and improved finishing, he became a constant threat to opposing defenders.
In the Premier League, Ronaldo scored 31 goals in 34 appearances to finish as the competition’s top scorer and claim the Golden Boot. His achievement was even more impressive because he frequently operated from wide attacking positions rather than as a traditional centre forward.
His goals played a major role in Manchester United’s successful title campaign. The club finished ahead of Chelsea after a closely contested race that went down to the final day of the season.
Ronaldo also emerged as the Champions League’s leading scorer with eight goals, helping United reach the final against Chelsea in Moscow.
Champions League triumph sealed a historic campaign
The Champions League final, played on May 21, 2008, provided another defining moment in Ronaldo’s career.
He opened the scoring with a powerful header from a Wes Brown cross, giving Manchester United the lead before Chelsea’s Frank Lampard equalised. The match remained level at 1-1 after extra time and went to a penalty shootout.
United eventually won 6-5 after Chelsea captain John Terry slipped while taking a penalty that could have secured victory for his side. Ronaldo had earlier missed his own spot kick, but goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s effort to confirm United’s triumph.
The victory completed a memorable season for Ronaldo, whose performances earned him the 2008 Ballon d’Or. He became the first Manchester United player to win the award since George Best in 1968.
He also received the FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFPro World Player of the Year awards, further confirming his status among the leading footballers in the world.
The success marked a turning point in his career and laid the foundation for his later achievements at Real Madrid, where he won four additional Ballon d’Or titles.
Messi’s extraordinary 2012 scoring record
Although Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign topped the fan poll, Messi’s 2012 season remains one of the most remarkable individual performances in football.
The Argentine scored 91 goals for club and country during the calendar year, setting a record that remains central to his legacy. Playing for Barcelona, he combined clinical finishing with exceptional close control, creativity and an ability to influence matches from different attacking positions.
His outstanding performances earned him the 2012 Ballon d’Or, his fourth consecutive victory at the time. Messi has since won the award eight times, compared with Ronaldo’s five.
Their achievements during these two landmark periods highlight the different strengths that have defined their careers. Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign was marked by his decisive contribution to Manchester United’s Premier League and Champions League double, while Messi’s 2012 year stood out for his extraordinary goalscoring numbers.
How the B.O.A.T. fan poll worked
The B.O.A.T. initiative invited fans to choose the greatest season among footballers who had won the Ballon d’Or at least twice.
The shortlist featured several legends of the game, including Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Ronaldo Nazário, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Karl Heinz Rummenigge, alongside Ronaldo and Messi.
Because the competition assessed individual seasons rather than ranking players only once, the same footballer could feature more than once. Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign finished first, his 2017 season placed third, and Messi’s 2012 campaign came second. Messi’s 2023 season also ranked among the leading entries.
Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or, which is decided through voting by football journalists, the B.O.A.T. initiative relied on public participation. Reports indicated that each vote cost €1.
This difference is important when assessing the outcome. The result reflects the views of those who participated in the poll and should not be treated as a definitive comparison of players from different generations.
Ronaldo’s legacy continues to fuel football’s greatest debate
Ronaldo’s 2007/08 campaign remains a major milestone because it combined individual brilliance with success at the highest level of club football. He won the Premier League, Champions League, European Golden Shoe and Ballon d’Or during the same season.
His subsequent spells at Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United and Al Nassr have further strengthened his reputation for longevity, adaptability and consistent goalscoring.
The latest poll has not settled the debate over football’s greatest player or finest individual season. Instead, it has renewed attention on the campaign that announced Ronaldo as one of the defining figures of modern football.
For Ronaldo’s supporters, the 2008 season was when his immense potential became undeniable greatness. Messi’s admirers, meanwhile, continue to point to his remarkable 2012 scoring record as evidence of his own extraordinary ability.
Both campaigns remain outstanding chapters in football history, and the latest fan vote has once again brought the achievements of the two superstars into the spotlight.
