Ronaldo was right about the Ballon d'Or

23/09/2025 10:36:00 SportScoop

Cristiano Ronaldo made accurate observations regarding the criteria for the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner.

As expected, the 2025 Ballon d'Or was awarded to Ousmane Dembele following his outstanding performance last season. The French forward played a key role in helping PSG secure the treble, including the UEFA Champions League title.

Immediately after the award ceremony, fans revisited comments made by Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, about this individual honor. According to him, the recipient of the Ballon d'Or must be someone who has won multiple trophies, including the Champions League.

Specifically, during a press conference before the UEFA Nations League final in June, Ronaldo stated: "I believe that individual awards today have somewhat lost their true value, as there are no clear criteria to determine who truly deserves them.

In my opinion,the Ballon d'Or winner should be a player from a team that has won a trophy. Ideally, it should be awarded to a player who has won the Champions League."

Ronaldo đã đúng về Quả bóng Vàng 709424 — Ronaldo was correct in asserting that the Ballon d'Or winner must have a Champions League title

In fact, Dembele had an unexpectedly brilliant season with excellent performances across all competitions. After 53 appearances, the 1997-born star contributed 37 goals and 16 assists, highlighting his crucial role in PSG’s gameplay.

At the international level, Dembele continued to be a key player under coach Didier Deschamps, helping France reach the UEFA Nations League semifinals before finishing third in the tournament.

As for Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar has long downplayed the value of the Ballon d'Or. He claimed that the award has "lost its value and credibility." This was clearly shown when Ronaldo expressed that Vinicius was more deserving of the 2024 Ballon d'Or instead of Rodri, who ultimately won the award.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times, in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. This achievement places him among the greatest footballers in history, comparable to many legends. However, compared to Lionel Messi, Ronaldo still trails behind as the Argentine has set an unprecedented record with 8 awards.

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