Cristiano Ronaldo has once again stirred the pot in the world of football, this time by reigniting a long-standing debate over the criteria for awarding the Ballon d’Or. The Portuguese icon’s recent comments have drawn sharp attention—not only from fans and pundits—but also from a former rival, French football legend Franck Ribéry.
Speaking ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Spain, Ronaldo voiced his discontent with what he believes is a shift away from meaningful achievements in determining the Ballon d’Or winner. The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient made his stance clear: only players who win the UEFA Champions League should be in contention for the sport’s most prestigious individual honor.
“For me, whoever wins the Ballon d’Or should be a player who has won the Champions League. I think this award has lost its value,” Ronaldo said during a press conference.
Ronaldo’s comments appeared to take aim at recent Ballon d’Or results, where the award went to players who didn’t secure major team trophies, particularly the Champions League. In his view, the award has drifted from its original purpose—recognizing the best of the best—not just in terms of talent or popularity, but also in tangible success on the pitch.
The remarks quickly caught fire online and triggered a pointed reaction from Franck Ribéry, who famously lost the 2013 Ballon d’Or to Ronaldo. Ribéry had led Bayern Munich through a phenomenal season that year, helping the German giants secure a historic treble—the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ribéry issued a sarcastic yet unmistakably stinging response:
“So, you need to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d’Or?” followed by three laughing emojis.
Ribéry’s reaction was more than just mockery—it carried the weight of personal history. Many fans and football analysts still regard the 2013 Ballon d’Or as one of the most controversial in recent memory. Despite Bayern Munich’s dominance and Ribéry’s central role in their success, the award went to Ronaldo, who had delivered an impressive individual campaign but without securing a major team trophy that year.
The Frenchman’s tweet was seen by many as a direct jab at Ronaldo’s apparent change in standards. If Ronaldo now believes Champions League success should be essential for Ballon d’Or consideration, where was that argument in 2013? Ribéry’s retort highlights the perceived inconsistency in how the Ballon d’Or is awarded and reflects the frustration of players who feel overlooked despite their achievements.
At the heart of this exchange lies a broader, unresolved question: What should determine the Ballon d’Or—individual brilliance, team achievements, or a combination of both?
On one hand, players like Ronaldo argue that trophies, especially those won in top-tier competitions like the Champions League, should weigh heavily. On the other, critics of that stance point out that football is a team sport, and individual excellence can shine even in teams that fall short of silverware. Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or wins in years without Champions League triumphs and Luka Modrić’s 2018 win after leading Croatia to a World Cup final—despite not winning it—add more layers to the debate.
This latest back-and-forth between two former rivals reminds the football world just how polarizing and subjective the Ballon d’Or can be. While fans may never reach a consensus, one thing is certain: the award remains one of the sport’s most hotly contested honors, and discussions like these ensure its relevance continues far beyond the gala ceremony.
Read Ribery’s remarks below:
Source: Thepressradio.com
