Cristiano Ronaldo won the first of his four Ballon d’Or awards in 2008.

The Portuguese fired Manchester United to a Premier League and Champions League double in 2007-08, scoring 42 goals in all competitions. Of the 96 journalists who voted, 77 picked Ronaldo as their choice.

"It is one of the most beautiful days of my life. To gain this trophy is something I dreamed of as a child," Ronaldo said at the time, via the Telegraph.

"Great emotion fills me but I cannot really describe it. I want to thank those who voted for me, those who know me and those who live with me.

"This (trophy) is one that I want to win again because it is so good. Therefore, I will wake and I will say to myself 'I want to be even better.'"

Ronaldo was 23-years-old when he beat Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres to the prize. The Portugal international polled 446 points from a maximum 480, with Messi and Torres receiving 281 and 179 points respectively.

Since 2008, Ronaldo and Messi have finished first and second (in any order) in Ballon d’Or voting eight out of nine years. Pretty much if you’re not named Messi or Ronaldo, the best you’re aiming for is third place.

Torres had a brilliant 2008

Torres grabbed that spot after scoring 33 goals in his debut season for Liverpool. He was also named man of the match in the Euro 2008 final after scoring the only goal in Spain’s 1-0 win over Germany.

The striker wasn’t upset about missing out on football’s coveted individual prize. In fact, he was delighted to have been nominated.

Torres’ teammate, Steven Gerrard, was just as happy for the Spaniard and believed wholeheartedly that El Nino would win the award at some point in his career.

What Gerrard told Torres after 2008 ceremony

“In 2008, I went to the Ballon d’Or gala in Switzerland. Ronaldo won, Messi came second and I came third,” Torres told Simon Hughes in his book ‘Ring of Fire: Liverpool FC into the 21st century,’ via The Anfield Wrap.

“I could not believe I was nominated. Wow, a private jet — I was in shock.

“Stevie kept telling me, “Don’t worry, you will win it for sure.” He told me that like he really thought it. I thought he was crazy!

“I never once thought I’d be good enough to get invited to a gala like this. His words expressed how he felt about me at the club and the performance levels I was reaching with the help of the support.

“He told me I could be the best in the world and I realised this is the feeling everybody in Liverpool had about me. They made me feel anything was possible, that everything was real.”

Of course, Torres is yet to win the Ballon d’Or, and he’s highly unlikely to ever do so. But let’s face it, nobody has come close to Messi and Ronaldo’s level in recent years.

Who will be the next player not named Messi or Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or? Let us know in the comments section below!