Cristiano Ronaldo finds solace: What is the BOAT, the bizarre award won by CR7? Messi was beaten

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was left off the list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, found consolation by winning the BOAT (Ballon d’Or All Time): the controversial award organized by France Football, based on an online fan vote, aimed to honor the “best Ballon d’Or winner of all time.”

Ronaldo won thanks to the trophy he claimed in 2008, the year he won the Champions League and the Premier League while playing for Manchester United. He beat out Lionel Messi, who came in second with his 2012 Ballon d’Or, ahead of Ronaldo (2017 Ballon d’Or) and Messi himself (2023 award).

This unusual honor drew criticism and mockery on social media: Voting was limited to those who had won the Ballon d’Or more than once, namely Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Marco van Basten, Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, and Johan Cruyff. In addition, fans could vote as many times as they wanted, paying 1 euro per vote on the official website.

The organizers reported that 5,009 users cast their votes multiple times, with 44 voting between 10 and 26 times, and 300 voting between five and nine times.