Cristiano Ronaldo believes the UEFA Champions League champion should be a key determinant in the Ballon d’Or award. Speaking ahead of Portugal’s Nations League final against Spain, the Al Nassr forward emphasized that individual honours should reflect team success at the highest club level .
Ronaldo, who has claimed five Ballon d’Or titles and secured five UEFA Champions League victories — one more than Lionel Messi — remarked:
“For me, the one who should win the Ballon d’Or should be a player who has won the Champions League” .
His commentary sparked debate, notably with former Ballon d’Or contender Franck Ribéry. Ribéry, who won the Champions League during Bayern Munich's treble-winning 2013 campaign but finished third behind Ronaldo and Messi, responded with irony on social media:
“So you NEED to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d’Or?” .
Ronaldo further criticized current individual award mechanisms, calling them opaque and lacking credibility .
Despite this stance, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has sometimes voted for candidates who did not win the Champions League — most recently naming Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé among potential recipients .
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