Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has criticized the Ballon d’Or, claiming the prestigious award lacks credibility.
Ronaldo expressed his disappointment over Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or, despite being widely regarded as the favorite. The Brazilian forward had an outstanding season, scoring 25 goals and providing 12 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos. He also played a key role in helping Real Madrid secure the Champions League, LaLiga, and Supercopa de España titles under Carlo Ancelotti.
Last year, Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed the award ahead of Vinicius, a decision that sparked debate among football fans and pundits.
Speaking on the matter, Ronaldo stated (as quoted by journalist Fabrizio Romano on X):
“Vini Jr. deserved to win the Ballon d’Or, but I’m not surprised… Not only because I didn’t win it or not, but because it lacks credibility. He won the Champions League and scored goals.”