Ronaldo tops the Ballon d'Or history in the 2008 season

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, was crowned the best player in the history of the Ballon d'Or after topping the fan vote for his exceptional 2008 season. This was part of the "Ballon d'Or Through the Ages" initiative, which aims to select the most outstanding seasons of the award's previous winners. The organizers announced the results of the vote, which began at the start of October and continued until the 27th, with football fans from around the world participating to choose the best season from among ten players who had won the Ballon d'Or at least twice. Ronaldo dominated the voting from the outset, leading the pack by a significant margin. However, the organizers decided to withhold the voting percentages in the final days to keep the final result pending until the official announcement, raising questions about the transparency of the voting process. The organizers confirmed that the initiative's rules have remained unchanged since its inception, emphasizing their commitment to disclosing the final results, vote counts, and full details of the voting process. The selection of the 2008 season is based on Ronaldo's remarkable achievements with Manchester United, where he contributed to winning both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League titles, scoring 42 goals across all competitions, including 31 in the league, before winning his first Ballon d'Or at the end of that same year. The "Ballon d'Or Through History" initiative aims to revisit the most significant individual milestones in the careers of football legends and celebrate the seasons that have left an indelible mark on the history of the award, which began in 1956. This selection adds another public accolade to Ronaldo's record, who has previously won the Ballon d'Or five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017).