Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr should have won this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award instead of Rodri.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo said Vinícius deserved the prize over Manchester City’s Rodri, after the Brazil forward and his Real Madrid teammates boycotted the ceremony in Paris hosted by France Football magazine.
Vinicius has since won The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year prize and the main Globe Soccer Awards honour.
“In my opinion, he [Vinícius] deserved to win the golden ball [Ballon d’Or award],” former Real Madrid star Ronaldo said.
“It was unfair in my opinion. I say here in front everybody. They give it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinícius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final.”
Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d’Ors but was not shortlisted for this year’s prize, criticised France Football magazine.
“You know these galas, they always do the same thing,” he said.
Ronaldo then praised Globe Soccer, who named him Best Middle East Player of 2024 on Friday.
The Portugal international has scored 74 goals in 83 games since joining AL Nassr on a free transfer in January 2023 after leaving Manchester United.
Ronaldo took aim at his old club, saying the club is still struggling from issues stemming from more deep-rooted issues.
“The problem of Manchester United is the same,” he said. “The problem is not always the coach (Ruben Amorim). It’s much more than that.
“If you have the fish inside and he’s sick and you take him out and you fix the problem and you put him again in an aquarium you will be sick again.”
