Cristiano Ronaldo has been left fuming with the Ballon d’Or voting system
Cristiano Ronaldo has previously criticised the Ballon d’Or voting system, claiming that both he and Vinicius Junior have been overlooked for the prestigious award. In 2024, Manchester City’s Rodri was awarded the honour, beating Vini Jr in the process.
The Real Madrid star had a successful campaign, winning the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. In contrast, Rodri claimed the Premier League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
He also outshone the Brazilian on the international stage, securing the European Championship with Spain. Numerous arguments were made for Vini Jr. to win the Ballon d’Or, including from ex-Manchester United legend and Madrid star Ronaldo, who believes he and the winger share the same feelings of being unjustly treated in the voting.
Speaking to La Sexta at the time, the five-time winner said: “There is no credibility, Vinicius should be the Ballon d’Or winner. I have felt it many times and I felt angry. Over time I understood it, these are battles that you cannot win.”
Ronaldo was likely referring to Lionel Messi, who holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or trophies with eight, three more than Ronaldo. The iconic duo have competed for the award for two decades, with Messi winning an unprecedented four in a row from 2009 to 2012.
READ MORE: Ballon d’Or 2025: How does the voting work and who are the favourites to win?READ MORE: Ballon d’Or voting controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘I didn’t pick him’
The Portuguese forward pipped Messi to his first Ballon d’Or, claiming it in 2008 whilst still in Manchester working under Sir Alex Ferguson. The Argentinian then secured four consecutive awards, before Ronaldo claimed the prize in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Messi secured another four Ballon d’Ors in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023 – following his legendary World Cup triumph – establishing himself as the most decorated player in the award’s history over the past two decades.
Ronaldo has previously expressed his frustration with the award’s selection process, even revealing to Piers Morgan that he believes he should conclude his career with more Ballon d’Ors than Messi.
Speaking in 2019, he said: “Messi’s in the history of football. But I think I have to have six or seven or eight to be above him.”
Discussing his bond with the Argentine, the now-40-year-old added: “My relationship with him is, we are not friends, but we have shared this stage for 15 years. I know that he has pushed me to be a better player and I have pushed him to be a better player as well.”
Cut to 2025, and both Ronaldo and Messi are not in the running for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal are regarded as the frontrunners for the 2025 men’s accolade, and it appears that Messi and Ronaldo’s decades of supremacy in the award seem to be drawing to a close.
With a staggering 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, it’s clear that, regardless of Ronaldo’s personal feelings towards the ceremony, he has left an indelible mark on football that will be debated for years to come.
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