Champions League victor deserving of Ballon d'Or, according to Ronaldo
🏆 CR7's Ballon d'Or Take: Trophies Talk 🏆
Skipper of the Portuguese national football squad, five-time Ballon d'Or sensation Cristiano Ronaldo, weighed in on the legendary accolade during a recent presser in Munich, ahead of the Nations League final against Spain. He asserted that the Ballon d'Or should be bestowed upon a player who's an integral part of a trophy-laden team, specifically one that's hoisted the coveted Champions League shield.
40-year-old Ronaldo, who has a keen eye for details and trophies, didn't mince words, declaring, "If it's up to me, the Ballon d'Or should go to a player on a champion team, possibly one with a Champions League title under their belt."
First presented in 1956 by France Football, the prestigious Ballon d'Or is given to the player who, in the opinion of the panel, had the most outstanding season.
The recent 5-0 annihilation of Inter Milan by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League finals has sparked conversations about Ousmane Dembele as a compelling contender for this season's award.
The debate, however, hasn't narrowed down to just Dembele, with some advocating for the unprecedented honor for the 17-year-old Spanish prodigy, Lamine Yamal, following his impressive display in the 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France.
France coach Didier Deschamps had no qualms declaring his support for Dembele, stating, "Given the year Ousmane is having, he deserves it - that's all I'm rooting for."
In Stuttgart's press conference, France captain Kylian Mbappé expressed his backing for Dembele, according to local news sources. "You don't need me to break it down, we're talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele right now, but I'm voting for Dembele," he was quoted as saying.
Not one to shy away from his beliefs, Ronaldo chimed in, sharing that he's unable to declare who deserves the award this season. The prolific scorer, with his five wins, is outranked only by Argentina's Lionel Messi, who has nabbed the honor eight times, thus far.
Messi and Ronaldo had a decade-long stranglehold on the Ballon d'Or, starting with Ronaldo's inaugural win in 2008 and ending with his seventh in 2017. As of now, Spain's Rodri, midfielder of Manchester City, holds the award.
While the top contenders for this year's Ballon d'Or weren't explicitly mentioned, it's generally a given that players from successful teams with awe-inspiring individual performances have a strong chance at winning the award. Players like ErlingHaaland from Borussia Dortmund or those involved in significant team achievements throughout the season would be in the running if they were part of a trophy-winning ensemble.
Cristiano Ronaldo, while advocating for the Ballon d'Or, stated that he believes the award should be given to a player on a champion team, ideally possessing a Champions League title. Earlier discussions about the award include Ousmane Dembele, following his impressive performance, and Lamine Yamal, who played a key role in the Nations League semi-final win.
