Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is disregarding the prestigious award these days with the Al Nassr star calling it “fictional.”
Ronaldo (and Lionel Messi) were left off the 30-man nominee list for a second straight year. The 2025 edition comprised almost entirely of players in Europe’s top five leagues including SEVEN players from Paris Saint-Germain.
Following Al Nassr’s 4-0 friendly victory against Portugal’s Rio Ave, CR7 was asked about the Ballon d’Or and responded that the award doesn’t mean anything to him.
Ronaldo Ballon d’Or fiction
Cristiano Ronaldo on the Ballon d'Or:
"It's fictional to me."— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) August 8, 2025
Only Messi has won the award more than Ronaldo with eight trophies across three different decades. Despite Ronaldo’s history of winning the Ballon d’Or, it appears his opinion of it has plummeted.
This marks the third time in the last year that the 40-year-old has publicly criticised France Football’s annual best player of the year pick.
In December Ronaldo was unhappy that Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior lost out on the title to Manchester City’s Rodri.
“It was unfair, I don’t mind saying it, those galas always do the same thing. That’s why I love the Globe Soccer Awards — they have more credibility than the Ballon d’Or, they’re honest awards,” Ronaldo said last year.
The Globe Soccer Awards are held in Dubai each year and have a history of showing far more love to Ronaldo than the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo has won six “Best Player of the Year” titles from Globe while Messi has earned just one.
Globe also named Ronaldo the greatest player of the 21st century over Messi.
Another example of Ronaldo expressing his displeasure with the Ballon d’Or came this summer when asked who should win the award in 2025.
“It should be won by the one who stands out and wins the Champions League, that’s my opinion. I no longer believe in individual awards, because I know what goes on behind the scenes,” Ronaldo said in June.
Ronaldo scored 35 goals in 41 games for Al Nassr in the 2024-25 season and helped Portugal win their second UEFA Nations League title, scoring in the final against Spain.
