Goa, Oct. 29 -- Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten longtime rival Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) award following a month of public online voting, with fans selecting his historic 2007-08 season as the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning campaign.

Ronaldo secured the recognition for his performances during the 2007-08 season, when he helped Manchester United win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese forward scored 42 goals across all competitions that season, establishing himself among the world's leading footballers and earning his first Ballon d'Or.

Messi finished second in the voting for his 2012 Ballon d'Or triumph, keeping the rivalry between the two football legends at the centre of th...