Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Fans settle the GOAT debate again

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Fans settle the GOAT debate again What could be more difficult than choosing between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both football stars have their distinct positions, still GOAT debate refuses to die down. Now Ballon d'Or has tried to settle this debate. Cristiano Ronaldo's 2007-2008 season with Manchester United was voted the greatest Ballon d'Or winning campaign of all time, moving ahead of long-time competitor Lionel Messi. The special fan poll was hosted by France Football to celebrate the 7oth anniversary of the Ballon d'Or. Fans voted for the best season among previous Ballon d'Or winners, with Ronaldo claiming the top position. Speaking about the runners-up, Messi's 2012 campaign in which he scored a record 91 goals in a calendar year secured second position and 3rd place was awarded to Portuguese footballer's 2017 season with Real Madrid. In Ronaldo's 2007-8 campaign, he scored 42 goals across all competitions for Manchester United. He led United to victories in both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Ronaldo also earned his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 and marked the start of his era-defining rivalry with Messi. However, controversy surrounds the poll voting system as participants were charged €1 per vote and allowed to vote multiple times. Over 5,000 people submitted multiple votes, sparking criticism that the results reflect voters' spending power rather than actual footballing merit. The result is purely a fan poll outcome, not an official Ballon d'Or or Super Ballon d'Or title.