Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t shown up for the Ballon d’Or ceremony as he did during his time at Juventus and hit out at France Football’s editor-in-chief Pascal Ferré on social media.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is ongoing in Paris, but the former Juventus star is not among those attending.
Ronaldo will finish in the top 10 but he is not tipped to win the award with Leo Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho the leading candidates to be named best player of the year.
Ronaldo hardly participates in ceremonies that don’t end with him raising the trophy.
Back in 2018, he didn’t participate in the Ballon d’Or ceremony and ‘The Best’ award, both won by his former teammate Luka Modric who had reached the World Cup Final with Croatia.
He did the same thing one year later, not attending the ceremony that saw Messi get the award.
On that occasion, Modric hit out at his former Real Madrid teammate.
“I am here because football is about respect,” he said. “I am here to give pass the award to Messi and congratulate him. You must show respect also when you don’t win, that’s what football is about.”
Meantime, Ronaldo has shared a message on social media against Pascal Ferre, the editor-in-chief at France Football magazine who claimed CR7’s only ambition is to end with more Ballon d’Or trophies than Messi.
“Today’s outcome explains why Pascal Ferré’s statements last week, when he stated that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Golden Balls than Lionel Messi. Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for,” Ronaldo wrote.
“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.
“And he lied again today, justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist. I always want to congratulate those who win, within the sportsmanship and fair-play that have guided my career since the beginning, and I do it because I’m never against anyone.
“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.”