Vincent Garcia, head of the Ballon d’Or, recently disclosed that Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has opted to abstain from voting for the prestigious football award. Garcia suggested that Ronaldo might be among former winners who feel discontented with recent award outcomes, though he noted he has no direct communication with the player.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, holds the second-highest number of wins, trailing only behind Lionel Messi, who has claimed the title eight times. However, the last time Ronaldo was named the world’s best player was in 2017. Since then, his absence from the top ranks has become more pronounced, especially as Messi continues to gain recognition. Following Messi’s 2023 victory, Ronaldo liked an Instagram post alleging that Messi had won three Ballon d’Or titles too many, hinting at the growing tension between the two icons’ fan bases.
For the first time in over two decades, neither Ronaldo nor Messi has been included on the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Garcia elaborated on Ronaldo’s recent absence from the ceremony, mentioning that while former winners are invited to all future events, not all choose to attend. Some, he said, appear “upset” with the awards’ decisions, though he refrained from directly attributing these sentiments to Ronaldo. He did confirm, however, that Ronaldo has abstained from voting in recent years, including this year and last.
Garcia explained further, stating, “Former Ballon d’Or winners have the opportunity to vote for the Kopa Trophy, an award recognizing the best young player, yet Ronaldo opted not to participate in the voting process for two consecutive years.”
Ronaldo’s withdrawal from voting, coupled with his absence from the nominee list, underscores a shift in the dynamics of football’s most celebrated individual award. With the spotlight now turning to a new generation of stars, this could mark a transitional period as both Messi and Ronaldo step back from their longstanding dominance in world football.
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