Cristiano Ronaldo is 'disrespected' at the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo was suddenly excluded from the honor reel during the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards, causing fans to react angrily and fueling controversy over bias in favor of Lionel Messi.

Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have passed their career peaks, their names continue to dominate football-related controversies worldwide. The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, originally intended to celebrate current stars like Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal, unexpectedly became the stage for reigniting the endless rivalry between the two legends.

The issue began when France Football, the event organizer, aired a tribute video honoring past Ballon d'Or winners. Fans eagerly anticipated seeing golden moments of legends such as Ronaldinho, Kaká, and Lionel Messi. However, Cristiano Ronaldo — a five-time recipient of this prestigious award — was completely absent from the footage.

This omission quickly triggered a wave of anger. Millions of CR7 supporters immediately expressed their dissatisfaction on social media. One frustrated fan wrote: “Clearly, the Ballon d'Or is no longer meant for Cristiano... Messi appears twice, but Ronaldo doesn’t show up at all. This is blatant cheating.”

Another user openly criticized: “They didn’t even include Cristiano Ronaldo in the introduction segment. Such disrespect.” Meanwhile, many questioned whether this was a technical mistake or a deliberate choice by the organizers. “Why wasn’t Cristiano Ronaldo included, even though he has won 5 Ballon d'Or awards?”, an upset fan asked.

Numerous supporters also believe this incident signals a serious blow to the award’s credibility. “No clip about Ronaldo, no mention of him at all. It’s pathetic. The prestige of this award is dead; they are intentionally erasing a modern football icon simply because he speaks the truth.”

What made the situation even more sensitive was Messi’s favored multiple appearances in the video. The Argentine star was celebrated at the ceremony’s focal point, while Ronaldo was “forgotten,” unintentionally rekindling the longstanding disputes between their fiercely divided fanbases.

Although neither Messi nor Ronaldo were nominees this year, their enormous legacies still overshadowed the ceremony. While Messi is seen as the symbol of perfection and romantic love for football, Ronaldo represents ambition, resilience, and the spirit of conquest. Therefore, CR7’s “erasure” felt to many like a denial of an entire era.

What seemed like a nostalgic video ended up reigniting a fiery debate. This is no longer about who is greater between Messi and Ronaldo, but about how a prestigious award treats those who have shaped an entire generation.

Related articles

The 2025 Ballon d'Or sparks major controversy At the 2025 Ballon d'Or announcement, Pedri surprisingly placed only 11th, causing significant debate considering the Barcelona midfielder’s outstanding performance. See more