No trophy, but pride to spare! Ronaldo celebrates a €1 award
Cristiano Ronaldo has found another Ballon d'Or to celebrate — although this one doesn't even come with a physical trophy.
Details: After his 2008 triumph was voted the Ballon d'Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.), the Portuguese superstar took to social media to thank his supporters around the world. The 41-year-old forward was clearly delighted with the recognition, dedicating the symbolic victory to those who voted for him.
"Football belongs to the fans! Thanks to all the fans around the world. The Ballon d’Or of All Time is also yours," Ronaldo declared.
The award's organisers launched the online poll to determine the greatest Ballon d'Or-winning season in history. Ronaldo's remarkable 2008 campaign with Manchester United finished first, ahead of Lionel Messi's 2012 triumph.
Interestingly, the B.O.A.T. is not a traditional football award and comes with no physical trophy. Fans had to pay €1 per vote and were allowed to vote multiple times. Nevertheless, Ronaldo was more than happy to celebrate the result.
It's worth noting that Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 49 appearances for Manchester United during the 2007/08 season, helping the club win the Premier League and Champions League. The Portuguese legend has five Ballons d'Or, while Messi holds the all-time record with eight.
Reminder: Even Zidane couldn't believe it! Real Madrid legend's hilarious reaction to Ronaldo's 42 goals
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
