Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after his B.O.A.T. success!

The Portuguese thanked the fans after the vote that recognized his 2008 Ballon d’Or as the most significant in history

Ballon d'Or Today at 10:00

Add Foot Africa on Google

Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after his B.O.A.T. success!

Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his gratitude to the supporters after his success in the B.O.A.T., a public vote dedicated to past editions of the Ballon d’Or.

Cristiano Ronaldo chose to put the fans at the heart of his reaction. After seeing his 2008 Ballon d’Or top the B.O.A.T. vote, the Portuguese player posted a message of thanks on his social media accounts.

“Football belongs to the supporters!”

“Football belongs to the supporters! Thank you to all the fans around the world—the Ballon d’Or of all time is also yours,” Ronaldo wrote in a message translated from English.

The striker thus dedicates this recognition to those who took part in the vote. His reaction emphasizes his connection with the public, whose votes put his first Ballon d’Or at the top of this poll.

🚨🚨💣 CRISTIANO RONALDO 🇵🇹 RÉAGIT SUR SON B.O.A.T 🌕👇 : 🗣️ « LE FOOTBALL APPARTIENT AUX SUPPORTERS ! Merci à tous les fans du monde entier, le BALLON D’OR DE TOUS LES TEMPS est aussi le vôtre. » 📲 IG https://t.co/gWajFTnpl6
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) October 29, 2026

The 2008 Ballon d’Or recognized by internet users

Organized under the auspices of France Football to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, B.O.A.T. stands for “Ballon d’Or of All Time”. Internet users were invited to choose among the editions won by ten players who had won the award at least twice.

Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph edged out Lionel Messi’s in 2012. It is a symbolic distinction resulting from a paid public vote, with no new physical trophy and no change to the annual list of winners.

A 42-goal season with Manchester United

This 2008 award refers to one of the Portuguese player’s most memorable campaigns. During the 2007-2008 season, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions for Manchester United, helping the club secure the Premier League-Champions League double.

He subsequently won the first of his five Ballons d’Or. The next four, earned in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, came while he was playing for Real Madrid. His message therefore accompanies another tribute to a defining season in his career.

This article follows our newsroom’s editorial standards. To learn more about how we create and fact-check our content, see our Editorial Policy .