8 months ago
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Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a swipe at the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best awards after being left out of the running as Lionel Messi won both.
Ronaldo was snubbed for both Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best awards for 2023 after his move to Al Nassr in late 2022 from Manchester United.
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Messi bagged the Ballon d'Or in 2023, as well as taking home the men's player of the year at the FIFA Best awards earlier this month.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe made up the remaining top three while Ronaldo was nowhere to be seen.
And now the 38-year-old has taken aim at both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best awards, insisting they have since lost their credibility.
Speaking to Portuguese publication Record, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said: “I think that, in a way, these awards are losing credibility.
"We have to analyse 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.
"And it's not because I won at Globe Soccer. But 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."
Looking at the facts, Ronaldo scored 38 times for Al Nassr in 44 appearances - including 34 in 34 Saudi Pro League matches during his time in the Gulf nation - while scoring 54 in total for club and country.
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Last year, he helped Al Nassr win the Arab Club Champions Cup but they failed to win the Saudi Pro League after finishing second to Al Ittihad.
This season, Al Nassr are also finding it tough to claim the crown as they trail Al Hilal by seven points.
Ronaldo won three prizes at the Golden Globe Soccer awards in Dubai on Saturday, taking home the Best Middle East Player prize, the Maradona Award for the best goalscorer in 2023, and the Fans' Favourite Player of the Year award.
The former United star added: "We know how other organisms work.
"Obviously, I always think about my club and the national team first. The awards come after a good season for the club and the national team. I don't think about it much, honestly.
"As you said, well, the 54 goals I scored [in 2023], 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. In a way, I feel even more proud to have beaten Haaland, Mbappe and [Harry] Kane."
