Closing in on immortality: Cristiano Ronaldo’s 1,000-goal career milestone comes into sight

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his gratitude to football fans worldwide after securing the inaugural Ballon d'Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) award, surpassing his rival Lionel Messi. In a message shared on X on October 29, the 41-year-old Ronaldo thanked fans for their support and declared the B.O.A.T. award as theirs as well. Accompanying the post was a photo of Ronaldo kissing the trophy, which he had won in 2008 while playing for Manchester United.

The B.O.A.T. award, a fan-voting initiative introduced to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, allowed supporters to cast votes for the greatest Ballon d'Or winning campaign among football legends. Ronaldo's 2008 season with Manchester United finished at the top, followed by Messi's 2012 campaign. Ronaldo's 2017 Ballon d'Or-winning season with Real Madrid came in third.

The voting process for the B.O.A.T. had a unique twist – each vote cost €1, and fans were permitted to vote multiple times. Unlike the traditional Ballon d'Or, which is chosen by journalists, the B.O.A.T. was determined by a paid public vote. Although Ronaldo's victory reflects his global fanbase, it should not be seen as a definitive judgment on the greatest player in football history.

The B.O.A.T. neither constitutes an additional official Ballon d'Or title nor the Super Ballon d'Or, and no physical trophy was awarded. Nevertheless, Ronaldo's message conveyed that this recognition was equally significant for his supporters as it was for his on-field accomplishments.