Ronaldo-Questions

Ballon d’Or Lacks Credibility! – Ronaldo Claims Vinicius Jr. Was More Deserving, Challenges Messi’s Legacy

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited the Ballon d’Or debate, questioning the award’s credibility and suggesting Vinicius Jr. deserved it over Rodri in 2023. In a recent interview with La Sexta, the Portuguese star expressed his frustration with the selection process and indirectly criticized Lionel Messi’s seven Ballon d’Or wins. Declaring himself the "most complete" player, Ronaldo emphasized his unmatched achievements and competitive mindset. As he continues his career with Al Nassr and Portugal, his comments have once again fueled discussions about football’s most prestigious individual honor.

During the interview with La Sexta, Ronaldo vented his frustration at the award process, where the player indirectly took a jab at Lionel Messi, who’s awarded seven Ballon d'Ors, two more than Ronaldo's five. “There is no credibility, Vinicius should be the Ballon d'Or winner,” Ronaldo stated. “I have felt it many times and I felt angry. Over time I understood it, these are battles that you cannot win.” Ronaldo expressed.

The 40-year-old Portugal international reflects that competitive streak has also meant he sometimes missed his accomplishments. “I'm such a competitive person that sometimes I forget what I've achieved. If someone else were in my position, I would have quit football 10 years ago. I'm different,” he added.

 

Comparisons with Footballing Greats

 

During the same interview, Ronaldo also talked up his reputation as one of the greats in football history when he drew comparisons with other players. However, he acknowledged personal preferences as subjective but he had no tolerance for the idea of him being an incomplete player. “Taste is one thing, saying this, that or that, whether you prefer Messi, Pele or Maradona, I hear it and I respect it. But to say that Cristiano isn't complete is a lie. I'm the most complete. I don't see anyone better than me and I tell you that with all my heart,” he affirmed.

 

A Legacy of Unmatched Records

 

Ronaldo and Messi, who are both in the twilight of their incredible careers, are still considered a novelty. Messi and Ronaldo have pooled the combined 77 official trophies between them, with 33 and 44, respectively. Both are the only pair of footballers to ever have scored over 800 goals each for club and country, and both have also scored more than 50 goals in a season on numerous occasions.

 

Continued Rivalry and Future Prospects

 

Al Nassr star Ronaldo, 40, is returning to action for Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is now slated to play for the club in the Saudi Pro League. In contrast, as Inter Miami, Messi has been spending time in the MLS.  However, despite their rivalry on the field while they were playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona, both players have maintained a mutual respect for each other’s legacies.

Ronaldo’s comments take the long-running Ballon d’Or debate into even deeper territory as fans and analysts discourse over large areas over its subjective criteria to select winners.