Cristiano Ronaldo asserts that after being ignored by Fifa’s The Best and the Ballon d’Or, prizes are “losing credibility.”
At the beginning of 2023, the former Manchester United player departed elite football to join Al-Nassr.
This week, Cristiano Ronaldo traveled to Dubai. Ronaldo, 38, has been a Saudi Pro League player.
The 38-year-old Ronaldo then scored goals in the Saudi Pro League just for fun, tallying 54 goals in 2023.
Ronaldo’s lower-level efforts did not earn him a spot on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, which was won by Lionel Messi for the seventh time.
Additionally, he was not selected for the men’s player of the year shortlist in The Best Awards.
He did make an appearance at the Globe Soccer Awards this week in Dubai, where he was recognized with gongs for best middle eastern player, top goal scorer, and player of the year chosen by the fans.
Ronaldo lamented his lack of recognition for the Ballon d’Or and Best Awards in a long interview with the Portuguese newspaper Record.
“I think that these awards are kind of losing their credibility,” he stated. The entire season needs to be examined.
“That’s not to argue that Mbappe, Haaland, or Messi didn’t earn it. I genuinely don’t think these awards exist anymore.
And it has nothing to do with my Globe Soccer victory. However, there are numbers and facts. Furthermore, the numbers are honest.
BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES – FREE BETS
“This trophy is real, and they cannot take it away from me. Therefore, the fact that the figures are facts makes me even happy.
“We know how other organisms work,” the five-time Ballons d’Or winner and former Real Madrid player continued.
Naturally, my club and the national team are the first things that come to mind.
“The national team and the club had a successful season, which is followed by the awards. To be honest, I don’t give it much thought.
As you mentioned, some would argue that my 54 goals are simpler to achieve because I live in Saudi Arabia. However, experienced football players are aware of how challenging it is to score goals, whether they are in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, or Portugal.
“A goal is a goal, period. I feel somewhat more pleased of myself for defeating Haaland, Mbappe, and Kane.
“I was the best goalscorer this season,” declared Ronaldo, who was crowned the world’s top goal scorer at the Globe Soccer Awards.
“Consider thrashing juvenile animals such as Haaland. I’m honored. And I’m almost 39!
“I enjoy it when people start to doubt me again and I succeed.” I’m not impacted by the critique.
The Manchester City player looked stony-faced when the television stream cut to him among the crowd, but then he smiled.
In an apparent jab at former PSG player Messi, Ronaldo said earlier this week that the Saudi Pro League is “not worse than Ligue 1.”
“After spending a year there, I can say that the Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1,” he stated. We currently outperform the French league.
Ryanair, an airline, then made fun of Ronaldo by posting, “Finally, someone funnier than us.”