In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo accused France Football chief of spreading lies after Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or.
After competitor Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo reacted angrily to the Ballon d’Or organizers, France Football.
The Portuguese legend went on a Twitter rampage after Pascal Ferre said that Ronaldo’s primary goal was to win more Ballon d’Or titles than Messi. Ferre, the editor-in-chief of France Football magazine, which bestows the coveted individual award, told the New York Times (via Mirror):
“Ronaldo has only one ambition, and that is to retire with more Ballon d’Or than Messi, and I know that because he has told me.”
The ex-Manchester United player was not amused by these remarks. He went on an Instagram rant shortly after the comment, saying:
“Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for. It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d’Or.”
“I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don’t win against anyone. The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team in my country.,” he added.
Currently, the former Juventus star has two fewer Ballon d’Or honors than Messi. Ronaldo might fall farther behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who is likely to earn his ninth title on October 30 for leading his country to the World Cup last year.
The 36-year-old Inter Miami attacker scored seven goals during the quadrennial event, including a brace in the final against France.
