Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to share with his followers an accolade that takes him back to the beginning of his Ballon d'Or collection. The Portuguese star celebrated on X the result of the B.O.A.T. (Ballon d’Or of All Time), the popular vote organized by the Ballon d'Or to choose the best winning edition in its history. The chosen one was his 2008 award, won when he was wearing the Manchester United shirt.

"Football belongs to the fans! Thanks to all the fans around the world, the Ballon d'Or of All Time is yours too," wrote Cristiano. He accompanied his words with a photograph of that first award: a young Ronaldo, in a suit and tie, kissing the trophy that began his own collection.

The message focuses on those who decided the outcome. The participants in the poll placed his 2008 triumph ahead of Messi's 2012 Ballon d'Or. The podium was completed by another version of Cristiano himself: the 2017 one, when he won the last of his five awards, already as a Real Madrid player.

The image chosen to thank supporters refers to a decisive season in his career. In the 2007-08 campaign, Cristiano scored 42 goals for Manchester United, won the Premier League and lifted the Champions League. He also scored Alex Ferguson's team's goal in the final in Moscow against Chelsea, which was decided in a penalty shootout. That collective and individual performance opened the doors to his first Ballon d'Or.

A very special award

The initiative is commemorative in nature: it does not add a sixth Ballon d'Or to his honors nor does it contemplate the awarding of a physical trophy. The poll allowed participation through paid votes and repeated voting, a different formula from the one that decides the annual award.

Cristiano has celebrated that support with a direct dedication. Almost two decades after that photograph, he has brought back the memory of his first triumph to share it with the fans who have once again placed it at the very top.