Cristiano Ronaldo has five Ballon d’Ors to his name in a glittering career, but in 2017, he decided to sell one of his replica awards.
The Ballon d’Or replica is typically given to the club the winner was playing for by those who have had the honor of receiving it.
Alternatively, it ends up in their own museum or collection of personal trophies. But according to MARCA, Ronaldo requested that his 2013 Ballon d’Or be donated to a good cause.
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All of the auction’s revenues went to Make-A-Wish, a foundation that aids children with life-threatening illnesses.
Alongside Ronaldo’s longtime agent Jorge Mendes, he posed with the gold award.
A meeting with great coaches Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho at a boxing match in Manchester was also up for bid at the same auction, and that prize cost €30,000.
Although the silverware and memorabilia gathered by Real Madrid icon Alfredo di Stefano did sell for a lot back in 2021, Ballon d’Or auctions aren’t very regular.
His first Ballon d’Or, won in 1957, sold for £60,800, while his second, won two years later, went for £54,400. Only owned by Di Stefano, the coveted “Super Ballon d’Or” attracted a winning bid of £187,500.
Lionel Messi, who has seven Ballon d’Ors to his credit, has pulled ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo since winning his previous award in 2017.