Cristiano Ronaldo's awkward moment with Messi and Pele at 2007 FIFA awards

The year is 2007 and men’s football is on the brink of an unprecedented duopoly between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

With the exception of 2018 when Luka Modric dominated the sport, every single Ballon d’Or trophy has been awarded to either Ronaldo and Messi since then, which is frankly nothing short of astonishing.

Ronaldo took home France Football’s coveted prize in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, while Messi has lifted the golden football aloft in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

However, as we all know, it was Kaka who stood out as the star performer back in 2007 with the Brazilian holding the unique status of the last man to hold off the unstoppable charge of Messi and Ronaldo.

The World Cup winner was playing the best football of his life, topping the Champions League scoring charts from midfield with 10 goals as AC Milan exacted revenge on Liverpool in Athens.

It was the cherry on top for Kaka in a stunning year where Messi and Ronaldo also started to show signs of their future world-beating best and therefore, the major individual prizes were contested between the trio.

In the Ballon d’Or, Kaka comfortably and deservedly took home the prize with 445 votes, while Ronaldo came second on 277 votes and Messi rounded off the podium with 255 votes.

However, while the FIFA World Player of the Year award – since rebranded to ‘The Best’ award – also saw Kaka run away victorious, there was a slight alteration when it came to the silver and bronze medals.

At an awards ceremony held at the Zurich Opera House 15 days after the Ballon d’Or festivities, Messi actually usurped Ronaldo to finish second in what was clearly a closely-contested year between the two.

And the whole situation led to what must surely