Cristiano Ronaldo has weighed in on the ongoing Ballon d’Or debate, insisting the coveted individual prize should go to a player who has lifted the Champions League trophy. The five-time winner, who spoke on Saturday ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final against Spain in Munich, said winning major silverware should be a key criterion.
“In my view, the Ballon d’Or should go to someone whose team has won trophies — ideally the Champions League,” the 40-year-old Portuguese star told journalists during a press conference.
The Ballon d’Or, which has been awarded annually by France Football since 1956, recognises the footballer deemed to have performed best over the previous season. Following Paris Saint-Germain’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in last weekend’s Champions League final, calls have intensified for French winger Ousmane Dembélé to be this year’s recipient.
However, Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has also entered the conversation after his standout performance in the dramatic 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France. A win for the 17-year-old would make him the youngest ever Ballon d’Or winner.
France boss Didier Deschamps threw his support behind Dembélé, praising the forward’s impressive season and saying he “deserves” the award. National team captain Kylian Mbappé echoed that sentiment during a media session in Stuttgart on Saturday. “Do I really need to explain?” he said. “We’re hearing about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, but I’m voting for Dembélé.”
Although Ronaldo didn’t name a favourite, he reiterated that team success should weigh heavily in deciding who earns the award. “I can’t say who deserves it,” he said, “but I believe trophies should matter.”
Ronaldo’s tally of five Ballon d’Or wins is surpassed only by Lionel Messi’s eight. The pair dominated the accolade for a decade, sharing every edition between them from 2008 to 2017. The current holder is Spanish midfielder Rodri, who was instrumental in Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign.
