9781422270714

FIRST RECOGNIZED AS WORLD’S BEST PLAYER

The Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award is international football’s most prestigious individual honor. Awarded by the French magazine France Football since 1956, past winners include some of the most storied names in the sports’ history. Ronaldo joined the ranks of players such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten when he was named the winner of the award after his spectacular 2008 season with Manchester United. Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 49 matches across all competitions for the Red Devils, leading them to both Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles. Ronaldo finished ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres to claim his first Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world. He would go on to win the award four more times (2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017).

Ronaldo collects all five awards for being the best player in the world.

12

World Class Footballers: Cristiano Ronaldo