Ronaldo pips Messi to win B.O.A.T. award
Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi to win the first-ever B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time).
The organisers of the award announced Cristiano Ronaldo as winner of the award on Wednesday.
The award was introduced for players who have won the Ballon d’Or award twice or more with football fans tasked with voting for the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in history.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph was voted the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season in history.
The Portuguese captain enjoyed a remarkable year for the Red Devils, leading them to a Premier League and Champions League double.
He also scored a whopping 42 goals in all competitions.
Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph received an extraordinary 75% of the votes, comfortably ahead of Messi’s 2012 campaign on 9%.
Read Also: Why I chose Bursaspor over Celtic, other European teams –Iheanacho
According to the organisers, 5,009 people voted more than once. 44 people voted between 10 and 26 times; 300 people voted between 5 and 9 times and 4,665 people voted between 2 and 4 times. Casting a vote required a fee of €1 per entry.
The shortlist for the award contained several legends, including Ronaldo Nazario, Johan Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stefano, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Kevin Keegan and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
However, the top 12 entries contained only Ronaldo and Messi. In fact, Ronaldo Nazario was the only other player represented among the top 15 entries.
Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award eight times, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times.
Final BOAT standings – top 10
1- Cristiano Ronaldo – 2008
2 – Lionel Messi – 2012
3 – Cristiano Ronaldo – 2017
4 – Lionel Messi – 2023
5 – Cristiano Ronaldo – 2016
6 – Cristiano Ronaldo – 2014
7 – Lionel Messi – 2015
8 – Cristiano Ronaldo – 2013
9 – Lionel Messi – 2011
10 – Lionel Messi – 2009
