Cristiano Ronaldo declared that the world golden ball award – Ballon d’Or is “losing prestige” after Lionel Messi’s victory.
That is the headline shared in the Mirror newspaper (UK) today, January 22. Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards, despite the Portugal captain and Al Nassr being the top scorer in world football in the 2023 calendar year.
Now, Cristiano Ronaldo claims that the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards are ‘losing prestige’ due to Lionel Messi’s recent victories, Mirror reports. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times, including last year’s Ballon d’Or.
Messi won the 2023 Golden Ball after winning the World Cup with Argentina.
Recently, Lionel Messi was also honored as the Best FIFA Men’s Player – The Best in 2023. Argentine superstar Messi unexpectedly defeated Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to win FIFA The Best for the third time in his career.
Ronaldo did not even make the FIFA The Best shortlist nor the Top 30 World Golden Balls. 38-year-old Portuguese superstar Ronaldo appeared upset at being left out, after he scored 54 goals for Al Nassr in the past calendar year.
Ronaldo won the title of top goal scorer in 2023. And after not receiving any recognition for that achievement, Ronaldo now criticizes the Golden Ball award and FIFA The Best has lose credibility.
Ronaldo no longer believes in the Golden Ball award and FIFA The Best.
Cristiano Ronaldo stated on Record: “I think that, in some ways, these awards are losing prestige. I’m not saying Messi isn’t worthy, or Haaland or even Mbappe, but the numbers are there and the numbers don’t lie. We have to look at the entire season.
I simply don’t believe in these awards anymore. And it’s not because I won Globe Soccer. They can’t take this trophy away from me because it’s the truth. So that makes me even happier because the numbers tell the truth.
If you look back and see what happened at Manchester United and the national team, people really considered me a loser. But the truth is that I was focused and had a great time at Al Nassr, that’s why I scored 54 goals.
As long as my head and body are fine and I still love football, I will continue to play. Right now, I feel good, I feel satisfied and happy on the field, both with the Portuguese national team and the Al Nassr club. I’m doing what I like most: scoring goals and performing well.”
The former Real Madrid star, who won five Ballon d’Ors, then added: “Obviously, I always think about my club and the national team first. The awards come after a successful season for club and national team. To be honest, I didn’t think much about it.
As you know, with the 54 goals I scored, some people might say it’s easier because I’m in Saudi Arabia. But football experts know that it is difficult to score goals, whether in Saudi Arabia or in Italy, Spain or Portugal. A goal is a goal. In some ways, I feel even more proud to defeat Haaland, Mbappe and Kane.”
At the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony, Ronaldo considered himself the best scorer in the world and said: “I am the best scorer this season. Imagine beating young stars like Haaland, I’m so proud. And I’m almost 39 years old! I like it when people doubt me and then I succeed. I am not affected by criticism.”
Television immediately recorded Erling Haaland’s moment after Ronaldo’s statement. At first, Haaland appeared cold but then smiled with satisfaction after receiving compliments from his senior.
Earlier this week, Cristiano Ronaldo strangely claimed that “the Saudi Pro League is no worse than Ligue 1”, which appeared to be aimed at former PSG star Lionel Messi, who now plays in the US for Inter Miami. . Cristiano Ronaldo affirmed: “Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after a year here. Now our league is better than the French National Championship.”
