The 2017 Ballon d’Or ceremony marked the final year just the men’s award was handed out as more awards were introduced the following year.
The 62nd annual award was given to Cristiano Ronaldo for the fifth time matching Lionel Messi at the time. While history has unfolded with the Argentine overtaking his Portuguese rival, two of the greatest players of all time battled it out each year for the award over multiple years. The 2017 Ballon d’Or also marks the last, and perhaps final time, Ronaldo won the award.
