Legendary Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has questioned the credibility of the Ballon d’Or, citing recent decisions that, in his view, have undermined the award’s authenticity.
The former Real Madrid star, who has won the accolade five times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, said the award is no longer as credible or prestigious as it once was, and that he no longer holds it in high esteem.
In a recent interview with Sport TV Portugal after Al Nassr’s pre-season match, Ronaldo was asked about the 2025 Ballon d’Or. His blunt response was: “It’s fictional.”
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This marks the second consecutive year that Ronaldo has been left out of the final shortlist of 30 players vying for the award.
While he scored a respectable number of goals in the 2024/2025 Saudi Pro League, Al Nassr fell short in securing major titles. However, he did captain the Portuguese national team to victory in the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League, defeating Spain in the final.
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For the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, and Vitinha have emerged as the leading favourites to take home the prestigious trophy.
Watch Ronaldo’s remarks below:
🚨Cristiano Ronaldo on the Ballon d’Or:
“It’s fictional to me.”
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) August 8, 2025
SB/MA
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