CRISTIANO RONALDO claims that awards are “losing credibility” after being snubbed by the Ballon d’Or and Fifa’s The Best.
The former Manchester United star left top level football to join Al-Nassr at the start of 2023.
Ronaldo, 38, subsequently scored for fun in the Saudi Pro League, netting 54 goals in 2023.
With his efforts coming at a lower level, Ronaldo was not named on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, which was won for an eighth time by Lionel Messi.
While he also failed to make The Best awards’ men’s player of the year shortlist.
He did appear at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai this week, where he picked up fans’ favourite player of the year, best middle east player and best goal scorer gongs.
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During a lengthy interview with Portuguese paper Record, Ronaldo bemoaned his Ballon d’Or and Best Awards snubs.
He 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.
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“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.”
The former Real Madrid star, who has won five Ballons d’Or, then 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, 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 Kane.”
At the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo called himself the world’s best goalscorer, saying: “I was the best goalscorer this season.
“Imagine beating young animals like Haaland… I’m proud. And I’ll be 39 soon!
“I like when people doubt me again and then I’m successful. I don’t get affected by the criticism.”
As the television feed cut to Haaland in the crowd, the Manchester City star initially appeared stony faced, before breaking into a smirk.
Earlier this week Ronaldo bizarrely claimed that the Saudi Pro League is “not worse than Ligue 1” – in what appeared to be a dig at former PSG star Messi.
He said: “Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after one year spent there. We are better than the French league already now.”
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Ronaldo was subsequently mocked by airline Ryanair, who posted: “Finally, someone funnier than us.”
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Etienne Fermie
