Ronaldo’s ‘Football Belongs To The Fans’ Message Reignites Debate Over Ballon D’Or Voting
Ronaldo’s ‘Football Belongs to the Fans’ Message Reignites Debate Over Ballon d’Or Voting Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited debate over the Ballon d’Or voting process after declaring that “football belongs to the fans” following his victory in the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) poll. The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward made the remark on social media after his 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning season with Manchester United was voted the greatest individual campaign in the history of the prestigious award.His message has attracted attention because of his previous criticism of how individual football honours are decided. Reacting to the announcement, Ronaldo expressed appreciation to supporters worldwide, describing the recognition as belonging to them. “Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world. The Ballon D’Or of All Time is also yours,” he wrote. The Portuguese international finished ahead of longtime rival Lionel Messi, whose remarkable 2012 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign secured second place. Ronaldo’s 2017 triumph finished third in the voting. The BOAT award was introduced by France Football as part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or, which is decided through votes from an international panel of journalists, the BOAT recognition was determined through a public online voting exercise. The voting process reportedly required participants to pay €1 per vote and allowed multiple votes. The result has therefore generated discussions about the influence of fan popularity and paid participation in determining the outcome of football awards. Ronaldo’s winning campaign came during his time at Manchester United in the 2007–08 season. He scored 42 goals across all competitions, helping the English club win both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
- 31 Premier League goals, making him the competition’s leading scorer.
- Eight Champions League goals, making him the tournament’s top scorer.
- Winning the Premier League title with Manchester United.
- Scoring in the Champions League final against Chelsea before United won on penalties.
The outstanding campaign earned him his first Ballon d’Or in 2008. Ronaldo’s latest message has also revived attention to his previous reservations about individual football awards. In June 2025, he questioned the credibility of such honours, saying he did not place much importance on individual awards because of what he believed happened behind the scenes. His latest recognition, however, came through a public vote rather than the traditional journalists’ selection process. The development has renewed discussions among football supporters about whether fans, journalists or football professionals should have the greatest influence in determining individual honours. Despite the debate, Ronaldo’s BOAT victory adds another recognition to his decorated career, which includes five Ballon d’Or titles.
