Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said on Saturday that this year’s individual honour should be awarded to a player whose team won the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the 40-year-old forward emphasized the importance of trophies in determining the Ballon d’Or recipient.
“In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d’Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,” Ronaldo told reporters.
Ronaldo’s comments have reignited debate over one of the most controversial editions of the award. In 2013, Franck Ribery was widely expected to win the Ballon d’Or after leading Bayern Munich to a historic treble—clinching the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal. Ribery also won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award and scored in the Super Cup as Bayern defeated Chelsea.
The French winger registered 34 goals across all competitions that season and provided the crucial assist to Arjen Robben’s match-winning goal in the Champions League final.
However, despite his achievements, Ribery lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi also finished ahead of the Bayern Munich star, prompting accusations that the voting process was unfair. Ribery has publicly expressed his disappointment, even years later.
In contrast, Ronaldo did not win any trophies with Real Madrid during the 2012–13 season, although he did score an astonishing 66 goals in 56 games.
The Ballon d’Or, first awarded in 1956 by France Football magazine, recognises the player considered the best over the previous season.
Following Paris Saint-Germain’s 5–0 demolition of Inter Milan in last Saturday’s Champions League final, calls have grown for Ousmane Dembélé to win this year’s award.
Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal also entered the conversation after a dazzling performance in Spain’s 5–4 Nations League semi-final victory over France. Should he win, the 17-year-old would become the youngest Ballon d’Or recipient in history.
France coach Didier Deschamps publicly backed Dembélé for the prize.
“Considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it, and that’s all I wish for him,” Deschamps said.
At a press conference in Stuttgart, France captain Kylian Mbappé echoed the sentiment:
“Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now, we’re talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, but I’m voting for Dembélé.”
Ronaldo, however, remained neutral.
“I cannot tell you who deserves it,” he said.
Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times—second only to Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who has lifted the trophy eight times. The duo dominated the award for over a decade, from Ronaldo’s first win in 2008 to his last in 2017.
The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
ANN / AFP
