Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked fans around the world after being named the winner of France Football’s Ballon d’Or award for the greatest player in history.
The Al Nassr captain responded on X after a month-long public online vote saw him narrowly defeat Lionel Messi.
“Football belongs to the fans. Thank you to all the supporters around the world,” Ronaldo wrote.
He added: “The Ballon d’Or for the greatest player in history is also your award.”
The Portuguese Football Federation congratulated Ronaldo on X, writing: “From 2008 to forever. The greatest player to win the Ballon d’Or in history is Portuguese. Congratulations, captain.”
Ronaldo’s award recognises his 2007-08 season with Manchester United, when he helped the club win the Premier League and Champions League. He scored 42 goals in all competitions during that campaign and went on to claim the first Ballon d’Or of his career.
Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ronaldo’s former clubs, also celebrated his latest honour.
The Portugal forward has won five Ballon d’Or awards in total, with four of them coming during his time at Real Madrid, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Ronaldo’s brief response
According to Marca, attention turned to Ronaldo’s social media accounts after the online vote confirmed his victory.
Rather than directly addressing the contest or publishing a lengthy statement, Ronaldo initially shared a series of Instagram photographs showing his daily work and training routine. He accompanied them with a single word: “Preparing.”
That short message prompted thousands of reactions and comments from his supporters, who interpreted it as a reflection of Ronaldo’s competitive mindset. The post was seen as evidence that his focus remains on training and hard work, regardless of the growing number of awards and tributes he receives.
An image of Ronaldo training with intense effort and enthusiasm spread widely within minutes. He later published his message on X, directly addressing his success in the Ballon d’Or vote.
ESPN also reported that the Portuguese Football Federation had sent its congratulations following Ronaldo’s victory.
Al Nassr are listed to face Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League on 29 October 2026. Portugal are scheduled to play Denmark in the UEFA Nations League – Path One on 14 November 2026.
