Wristiano Ronaldo took to social media early this Thursday afternoon to break the silence after, the day before, being awarded the unprecedented Ballon d’Or of All Time (better known as BOAT, an acronym for Ballon d’Or of All Time), following a vote promoted by the prestigious France Football.
“Football belongs to the fans. Thank you to the fans from all over the world, the Ballon d’Or of All Time is also yours”, wrote the Portuguese international, after having seen the 2008 calendar year doubly recognized, in which he helped ‘his’ Manchester United win the Premier League, the English Super Cup and the Champions League.
Each participation in this vote, remember, cost one euro, with the now Al Nassr forward collecting 75% of the votes, which gave him a comfortable advantage over his ‘eternal rival’, Lionel Messi, whose Ballon d’Or won in 2012, with Barcelona, came in second place, with a mere 9%.
According to figures made public by France Football, 5,099 people voted more than once, in this distinction that does not include any type of physical trophy. Of these, 4,655 did so between two and four times, 300 between five and nine times, and the remaining 44 between ten and 26 times.
The final BOAT classification
1st – Cristiano Ronaldo (2008).
2nd – Lionel Messi (2012).
3rd – Cristiano Ronaldo (2017).
4th – Lionel Messi (2023).
5th – Cristiano Ronaldo (2016).
6th – Cristiano Ronaldo (2014).
7th – Lionel Messi (2015).
8th – Cristiano Ronaldo (2013).
9th – Lionel Messi (2011).
10th – Lionel Messi (2009).
11th – Lionel Messi (2019).
12th – Lionel Messi (2021).
13th – Ronaldo Nazário (2002).
14th – Lionel Messi (2010).
15th – Ronaldo Nazário (1997).
16th – Kevin Keegan (1979).
17th – Johan Cruyff (1974).
18th – Michel Platini (1984).
19th – Franz Beckenbauer (1976).
20th – Marco van Basten (1988).
21st – Johan Cruyff (1971).
22nd – Johan Cruyff (1973).
23rd – Franz Beckenbauer (1972).
24th – Michel Platini (1985).
25th – Marco van Basten (1989).
26th – Alfredo di Stéfano (1957).
27th – Kevin Keegan (1978).
28th – Marco van Basten (1992).
29th – Michel Platini (1983).
30th – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (1981).
31st – Alfredo di Stéfano (1959).
32nd – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (1980).
(News being updated)
