AFCON 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo says the Ballon D’or – football most prestigious individual award has lost his value in a recent chat with the media.
The five-time recipient of the award says the Ballon D’or is no longer valubale as it used to be in time past.
Ronaldo went on to set the sole criteria for winning the award.
Ronaldo Ballon D’or sole criteria puts French winger Ousmane Dembele as favorite to win the 2025 edition over Lamine Yamal, Mohammed Salah and Raphinha.
According to Ronaldo, only a player who wins the Champions League should be considered favorite to win among the list of nominees.
Ronaldo made this claim while responding to questions from journalists ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final against Spain on Sunday.
“For me, whoever wins the Ballon d’Or must be a player who won the Champions League. I think this award has lost its value.”
Ronaldo’s criteria will see Ousmane Dembele in the 2025 edition of the award having led PSG to Champions League success over Inter Milan in Munich.
Ousmane Dembele scored eight goals and provided six assits in 15 matches en route to winning the Champions League.
Dembele provided two assists as PSG thumped Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.
