Cristiano Ronaldo burst onto X to thank fans after being crowned winner of the Ballon d’Or of All Time award, a vote revealed just a day earlier. Can you imagine the buzz?
“Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon D’Or of All Time is also yours“, Ronaldo posted. The tweet, already past 1.6 million views, marked his first public comment since the award’s confirmation.
The B.O.A.T. (Best of All Time) trophy emerged from an online poll on the official Ballon d’Or site, where supporters voted for the greatest single season among ten double‑Ballon winners.
Ronaldo’s 2008 campaign with Manchester United topped the list, edging out Lionel Messi’s 2012 season in second place, while Ronaldo’s 2017 edition settled for third.
A fan vote, not an official Ballon d’Or.
Unlike the traditional Ballon d’Or, decided by journalists, the B.O.A.T. isn’t an official accolade. In my view, this fan‑driven honor adds sparkle to Ronaldo’s legacy, reflecting supporters’ preferences rather than a formal ruling.
Ronaldo beats Messi as his 2008 Ballon d’Or season secures the BOAT award: Is it an official trophy, and how does it differ from the Super Ballon d’Or?
His tally now reads five Ballon d’Ors: the 2008 win with United and four more in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 at Real Madrid. The English club highlighted the result on its site, and the Portuguese national team sent its captain a congratulatory message.
With the fan title added to his résumé, the 41‑year‑old forward eyes another milestone. He sits on 981 career goals, just 19 short of 1,000, and is driving Al Nassr’s push to retain the Saudi Pro League crown, while his Portugal future stays in doubt after suspension.