Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi and a host of football legends to win the inaugural Ballon d’Or ‘BOAT’ award.In a brand new category introduced for this year’s edition, Ronaldo has been awarded the prize which crowns the greatest Ballon d’Or winner of all time.Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or triumph has been ranked above all othersAFPWhile Harry Kane enjoyed an historic triumph in the main category, the Portuguese icon was among ten legendary players nominated for the Ballon d’Or of All Time [BOAT] award.This pitted previous multiple-time winners of the award against each other in a fan vote.With Ronaldo a five-time recipient of the individual prize, he was up against some greats of the game, including generational rival Messi.Also in the running were the Netherlands’ Marco van Basten and France’s Michel Platini – each with three Ballon d’Or crowns – plus Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff, who also won a trio of golden balls.Brazil 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazario, Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, Newcastle and Liverpool icon Kevin Keegan, Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano and Germany’s Karl-Heinz Rummenigge completed the list of contenders.But it was Portugal’s Ronaldo who triumphed in the all-time category, adding yet another individual award to his huge collection.Ronaldo scoops prestigious prizeAfter a fan vote, Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or season finished first, with eight-time winner Messi’s 2012 season coming in second.The Al Nassr forward also took third-place for his 2017 award – the last time he won football’s ultimate individual prize.Ronaldo claimed the first Ballon d’Or of his career in 2008, seeing off Messi and former Liverpool star Fernando Torres after a standout campaign with Manchester United.In the 2007/08 season, the football megastar scored 42 goals in all competitions to help Sir Alex Ferguson‘s side to Premier League and Champions League glory.Messi and Ronaldo share 13 Ballons d’Or between them – but only one has won the ‘BOAT’ awardGetty Images - GettyRonaldo scored a staggering 31 Premier League goals in his Ballon d’Or-winning 2007/08 campaignGettyIt was this triumph which truly catapulted Ronaldo into contention as one of the world’s greatest footballers.He certainly never looked back after that, with a move to Real Madrid for a then world-record £80million fee coming a year later in 2009.Ronaldo went on to spend nine years with the Spanish giants, winning the Champions League four times and going on to establish himself as one of football’s all-time greats.His exploits saw him scoop four more Ballon d’Or awards while at the Bernabeu – in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.Ronaldo’s rivalry with Messi reached its peak during his time in Spain, with the pair starring on opposite sides of the El Clasico rivalry and going head-to-head in the race to be crowned the world’s best player.Wit the Barcelona icon boasting three more Ballon d’Or crowns, Ronaldo will take delight in beating him in his BOAT triumph.Now in his forties, Ronaldo continues to chase recordsGettyThe Man United great has made no secret of his drive to be regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, and has openly voiced his belief of this before.He remains motivated by individual records even in the latter stages of his career, most notably his desire to reach 1,000 career goals.Ronaldo is closing in on the unprecedented milestone, currently sitting at an incredible 981 strikes in 1,340 professional games.Predict 6: Win £50k For FreeEnter our weekly prediction game to win £50kIt’s free to enter and all you have to do is pick 2 match winners, 2 correct scores, and the scorecast for the featured game (correct score plus first goalscorer) from this week’s Premier League action.Get all 6 right and the jackpot is yours!Make your weeks predictions here and beat our pundits.