There are rivalries that seem to never end. Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted to a publication about the Ballon d’Or that Messi won on October 30.
The captain of the Argentine national team, Lionel Messi, won this Monday his eighth Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world, surpassing the Norwegian Erling Haaland, UEFA’s best player of the year and triple winner of Manchester City.
For many, this has been a controversial decision. The Argentine star’s detractors, who previously questioned him winning it without having achieved anything at the national team level, now allege that the World Cup is not enough.
Tomás Roncero, Spanish sports journalist and talk show host at El Chiringuito de Jugones, fan of Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, said a AS:
“What we knew was consumed. They were going to give Messi the Ballon d’Or again. As a tribute it’s fine. We already know that he has been retired for a few months in Miami. He was retired from PSG. He prepared for the World Cup. Yes, he was good in the World Cup, he had six penalties in his favor. But he didn’t even remember the World Cup.”
Roncero also stated: “we know how this works. Five balls are well deserved, but three are not (2010 was from Xavi or Iniesta, 2021 from Lewandowski and this one from Haaland).”
GOLD BALLOON TO MESSI
One of the reactions to the video, which has been posted by the Spanish media, is that of the Portuguese star and Messi’s main rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese has 5 Ballon d’Ors and is now very far from what the Argentine achieved.
Ronaldo commented on Roncero’s publication with four laughing emojis.
Did Messi deserve the 2023 Ballon d’Or? The France Football Ballon d’Or awards the best footballer in the world for his goals, assists and titles at club and national team level during the previous season (from summer to summer). The winners are decided by 100 journalists of different nationalities and in each World Cup year this criterion matters.
Many believe that Erling Haaland should have been the winner, who did win the highest award among forwards, for his performance with Manchester City. But, under that criterion, even two other Citizens players surpass the Norwegian for what he achieved with his teams in the World Cup and the Nations League: Julián Álvarez and Rodri.
The Argentine “La Araña” won the World Cup against Mbappé and won all of City’s trophies to finish in seventh place in the 2023 Ballon d’Or ranking, while the Frenchman won the Bronze Ball.
