Lionel Messi who is the captain of Spanish giants Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo who plays for Juventus have both shown their appreciations after making Ballon d’Or all-time XI.
Ballon d’Or is an annual award presented by French Football Magazine in which Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are currently topping the list of highest winners.
The Ballon d’Or award started in the year 1956, and Stanley Mathews was the first winner following his superb performances for English club Blackpool then.
Fans had thought the first Ballon d’Or award would go to Alfredo Di Stefano because of his incredible games for Real Madrid, but he finished on second position and won it the following year.
Barcelona legend Messi has won the award six times so far in his career, while Cristiano Ronaldo has five of the awards in his cupboard.
Lionel Messi took to his official Instagram page to thank the organisers of the award and also congratulated other players who made the list.
”For me it is an honor to have been included in the eleven of the Ballon d’Or Dream Team.
”I want to thank you for choosing me and also congratulate all the players who were selected in the two teams and all the nominees, there are real phenomena on that list.”
Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo who first won his Ballon d’Or award at Manchester United in 2008 also appreciated the organisers on his Instagram page.
”I’m very honoured to be part of France Football’s All Time 11. What an amazing Dream Team.
”They all deserve my respect and admiration and I’m obviously proud to be amongst such extraordinary players. Thank you.”
Here is the starting XI according to how they were being voted:
Goalkeeper- Lev Yashin
Right-back – Cafu
Center-back – Franz Beckenbauer
Left-back – Paolo Maldini
Right-midfield – Diego Maradona
Central-midfield – Xavi
Central-midfield – Lothar Matthaus
Left-midfield – Pele
Right-wing – Lionel Messi Striker –
Ronaldo Left-wing – Cristiano Ronaldo
