Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi for inaugural Ballon d'Or 'B.O.A.T' award - USA Today

Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi in the fan voting for the inaugural B.O.A.T. (All-Time Ballon d’Or) award.

The award was launched this year with the intent of choosing the greatest Ballon d’Or winner of all time.

After a fan vote, Ronaldo's 2008 Ballon d'Or season finished first, with Messi's 2012 season coming in second.

Ronaldo earned the 2008 prize, his first of five, after an excellent campaign with Manchester United that saw him score 42 goals and lead the Red Devils to Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.

The voting opened on Oct. 1 and closed on Tuesday, Oct. 27 — just one day after Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas won the 2026 men's and women's Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London.

Fans were given the chance to vote for €1 ($1.12) per entry, and were able to vote more than once.

Those who paid the fee were not only able to vote, but received a photograph of the first Ballon d’Or and were entered in a drawing to win two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

According to the Ballon d'Or, there were 5,009 people who voted more than once.

Messi and Ronaldo dominated the vote, with the two superstars occupying the top 12 places. Full results are below.

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