Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have given away their Ballon D’or trophies for different reasons

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or stakes throughout their careers, but neither man has kept a single one of their awards for differing reasons

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have plenty in common after putting together iconic careers respectively, including winning numerous Ballon d’Or awards.

The pair also share the habit of giving all of their golden balls away, albeit for differing reasons. Messi won a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or last year after winning the World Cup, playing a part in Paris Saint-Germain’s title and making a huge impact in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.

Ronaldo won the last of his five Ballon d’Ors in 2017, but like Messi, he does not keep any of them in his personal trophy cabinet. Instead, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid superstars have donated each of the 13 Ballon d’Ors they have won between them.

All eight of Messi’s reside in Barcelona’s museum at the Camp Nou, even the last, which he won away from the club, in a clear gesture of his respect and appreciation for their role in his journey. Four of Ronaldo’s five Ballon d’Ors are also in a museum, but they’re in his own personal museum on the Portuguese island of Madeira.