Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed gratitude to supporters across the globe following his receipt of the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) trophy, noting that the prestigious honor belongs to the fans as well.
“Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon D’Or of All Time is also yours,” the Portuguese forward wrote on Instagram.
The award recognises Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign with Manchester United, which was voted the greatest individual season among Ballon d’Or-winning campaigns. France Football introduced the BOAT award to determine the most outstanding season in the history of the prestigious individual football prize.
Ronaldo emerged victorious through a fan-based voting process, which differed from the traditional Ballon d’Or system that relies on votes from selected journalists.
His 2008 campaign finished ahead of Lionel Messi’s record-breaking 2012 season, when the Argentine scored 91 goals across all competitions, according to Goal.
Several other legendary footballers were nominated for the recognition, including Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan and Franz Beckenbauer.
Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano and Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario were also among the nominees.
Fans were required to pay one euro to cast their votes, while organisers offered a prize draw featuring two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or ceremony as an incentive to participate.
Thousands of supporters took part in the process, with more than 5,000 fans reportedly voting multiple times to back their preferred campaigns.
Ronaldo and Messi dominated the top 12 positions in the voting, further highlighting the enduring rivalry between the two football icons.
Brazilian forward Ronaldo Nazario finished 13th with his 2002 Ballon d’Or-winning season.
What You Should Know
Cristiano Ronaldo has been honored with the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) award, recognizing his remarkable 2008 campaign with Manchester United as the greatest individual season in the history of the award. The winner was decided through a global fan vote rather than traditional journalism panels, with Ronaldo edging out rival Lionel Messi’s record-breaking 2012 season.
- Positive Impact: Fans get a more direct way to honor their football heroes and engage in nostalgic celebrations of past football greatness.
- Potential Concerns: The voting process required a small financial contribution of one euro per vote, which drew mixed reactions from supporters accustomed to free participation.
