Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, has openly criticized the Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Football Awards, questioning their credibility in the current football landscape. Despite a remarkable goal-scoring run in 2023, Ronaldo's achievements were overlooked in the nomination lists for these prestigious awards.
Ronaldo, who scored an impressive 54 goals for club and country last year, was conspicuously absent from the 30-man shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d'Or and was not among the finalists for The Best FIFA Men's Player award. Expressing his dissatisfaction, Ronaldo told Portuguese sports publication Record at the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, "I think that in a way these awards are losing credibility. We have to analyze the entire season. It's not to say that Messi didn't deserve it, or Haaland or even Mbappe. I simply no longer believe in these awards."
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's comments came in the wake of Lionel Messi's win as The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2023. This decision drew criticism due to its timing; the award didn't account for Messi's recent FIFA World Cup victory with Argentina in December 2022. Messi's performance in 2023, while notable with a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint Germain and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami, did not match the extraordinary standards of his previous years, nor did he claim major titles like the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo's criticism extends to the broader context of the awards, especially given that other top scorers like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane all exceeded the 50-goal mark in 2023. Haaland's significant contributions to Manchester City's success, including victories in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, led many to believe he was more deserving of the recent Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Men's Player awards.
Despite the awards snub, Ronaldo found recognition at the Globe Soccer Awards, winning the Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year. He reflected on this achievement, stating, "There are facts, there are numbers, and the numbers don't deceive. They can't take this trophy away from me because it's a reality. So, it makes me even happier because the numbers are facts."
Ronaldo's comments also addressed skepticism about the level of competition in Saudi Arabia. He remarked, "The 54 goals I scored, there may be those who say it's easier because I'm in Saudi Arabia. But football professionals know that it is difficult to score goals, whether in Saudi Arabia or in Italy, Spain, or Portugal. A goal is a goal."
The upcoming Riyadh Season Cup on February 1st is slated to feature a much-anticipated matchup between Ronaldo and Messi. However, Ronaldo's participation is uncertain due to a recent calf injury.
Other notable winners at the Globe Soccer Awards included Haaland as Best Men's Player of the Year, Aitana Bonmati as Best Women's Player of the Year, Pep Guardiola as Best Coach, and Manchester City as Best Men's Club.
