ไทย
English
中國人
Cristiano Ronaldo added yet another accolade to his already remarkable collection on Wednesday, claiming the B.O.A.T award.
The Portuguese star is among the most decorated athletes in football history. Ronaldo has claimed five Ballon d'Or titles, the second-highest tally behind only his long-standing rival Lionel Messi, along with two Best FIFA Men's Player awards.
His club and international trophy haul is equally staggering. Ronaldo amassed silverware consistently at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, securing five Champions League titles, three Premier League titles, two La Liga titles, and two Serie A titles, alongside numerous other honors. The legendary forward also guided Portugal to glory at the 2016 European Championship.
Just when it appeared there was nothing left for Ronaldo to conquer—setting aside the obvious elephant in the room—he walked away with the first-ever B.O.A.T award.
What Is the B.O.A.T Award Ronaldo Won?
B.O.A.T stands for Ballon d'Or of All Time, a newly introduced award designed to honor the greatest Ballon d'Or victory in the history of the sport. Nominees were drawn from past winners who had claimed football's most coveted individual prize on more than two occasions.
Ronaldo ultimately took the honor for his first-ever Ballon d'Or victory back in 2008. The legendary forward was celebrated for his extraordinary 2007–08 campaign with United, which culminated in both Premier League and Champions League triumphs.
Ronaldo netted 42 goals across all competitions that campaign, earning both the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Boot. His most memorable contribution was undoubtedly his opening goal in the Champions League final against Chelsea, a match the Red Devils went on to win via a penalty shootout.
The 2008 Ballon d'Or victory narrowly edged out Messi's 2012 triumph, which finished in second place. Rounding out the top three was Ronaldo's 2017 win.
Why Ronaldo's Latest Ballon d'Or Honor Is So Divisive
Whenever Ronaldo and Messi are pitted against each other, controversy is never far behind. Yet Ronaldo's victory over Messi was arguably the least contentious aspect of the debate that followed.
The real talking point was the voting mechanism. The B.O.A.T. award was determined by a public fan vote, giving supporters a direct say in which Ballon d'Or win would be considered the most iconic of all time.
However, participating fans were required to pay €1 per vote, fueling criticism that the award could essentially be purchased, particularly by supporters willing to cast multiple ballots.
Adding to the controversy, only players who had won the Ballon d'Or at least twice were eligible for nomination. This severely restricted the candidate pool, excluding celebrated victories by the likes of Raymond Kopa, Ronaldinho, Michael Owen, and Luka Modrić.
Ronaldo nonetheless embraced the recognition, marking the occasion on social media. "Football belongs to the fans! Thank you to all the fans around the world, the Ballon d'Or of All Time is also yours," he posted on Instagram.