Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo thanked football fans around the world after being crowned the inaugural winner of the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) award, saying the recognition also belonged to them. “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 wrote on Instagram.
Ronaldo received the inaugural BOAT award following a global fan vote, with his 2008 season at Manchester United being recognised as the greatest individual Ballon d’Or-winning campaign of all time.
Ronaldo edged out long-time rival Lionel Messi to claim the honour. Voters appeared to favour Ronaldo’s maiden Ballon d’Or-winning season in 2008 over Messi’s extraordinary 2012 campaign, during which the Argentine scored a record 91 goals in a calendar year.
The initiative proved popular, with thousands of supporters taking part. More than 5,000 fans reportedly voted multiple times in an effort to help their preferred player or campaign emerge victorious.
