Sports
The results of a public vote to select the best edition of the Ballon d'Or throughout history have sparked widespread debate after it was revealed that 5,009 participants cast multiple votes, each costing one euro. Data showed that the initiative, launched to choose the best Ballon d'Or edition, did not set a limit on the number of votes per user, allowing repeated voting for the specified fee. Numbers indicated that 44 individuals voted between 10 and 26 times each, 300 people voted between five and nine times, and 4,665 participants voted between two and four times. Although these figures raise questions about the voting mechanism, multiple participations complied with the initiative's rules permitting repeated votes at one euro per vote. The 2008 edition, won by the Portuguese star, received 75% of the votes, significantly ahead of the 2012 edition won by the Argentine, which garnered 9%, followed by the 2017 edition with 6%. Notably, 2008 marked the Portuguese player's first Ballon d'Or victory after an outstanding season with his English club, contributing to winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League titles. He scored 42 goals across all competitions that season, including 31 in the Premier League, finishing as the league's top scorer. This initiative is part of a public voting process aimed at selecting the best Ballon d'Or edition among those won by players who have received the award at least twice. It is important to note that this vote does not represent a new official award or additional trophy but simply identifies the edition favored by the public for a small fee per vote. The Argentine remains the record holder for the most Ballon d'Or wins, having received it eight times, compared to five times for the Portuguese star.
