Cristiano Ronaldo was named the Best Middle East Player of the Year at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, December 27, 2024. <\/p>\n However, his comments after accepting the award have sparked intense debate among football fans on social media.<\/p>\n The Portuguese captain asserted that Vinicius Junior, who won both the Best Player and Best Striker awards on the night, also deserved the Ballon d\u2019Or.<\/p>\n Ronaldo, during his acceptance speech, further claimed he prefers the Globe Soccer Awards to the Ballon d\u2019Or, describing the former as an “honest institution.”<\/p>\n \u201cVini did a fantastic job, and in my opinion, he deserved to win the Ballon d\u2019Or. It was unfair, in my opinion. I\u2019m saying it in front of everybody. This gala always does the right thing, which is why I love Globe Soccer. Continue hosting this gala because it\u2019s an honest award and it\u2019s very good,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n Ronaldo\u2019s remarks about the Ballon d\u2019Or weren\u2019t the only controversial statements he made on stage. The 2016 European Championship winner also asserted that the Saudi Pro League, where he currently plays, is better than the French Ligue 1, despite being ranked 33rd among the best leagues in world football.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course. France only has PSG. The rest are finished. This is a fact. I\u2019m not a liar,\u201d Ronaldo continued.<\/p>\n These comments have since divided fans, with some supporting the five-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner, while others accuse him of being bitter.<\/p>\n Read some of the reactions below:<\/b><\/p>\n Ronaldo cooked the Ballon d\u2019Or in front of everyone\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d<\/p>\n What a beautiful way to end the year. pic.twitter.com\/3JI8WUwsB7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Freddy\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddea (@FreddyLA7) December 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s rare to see someone as accomplished as Ronaldo so incredibly insecure and desperate for public validation. <\/p>\n You literally have nothing to prove, why go out of your way to sound moronic? <\/p>\n I don\u2019t get it. https:\/\/t.co\/z9JI993UTy<\/p>\n \u2014 Neal \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa (@NealGardner_) December 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This shows how childish Ronaldo is, when things don’t go his way he calls it unfair and rigged, there’s no way Vini deserved to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Rodri. <\/p>\n Vini wasn’t even Madrid best player last season, Bellingham carried Madrid for more than 8 months, scoring clutch\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/Qqeu1tPybk pic.twitter.com\/XoHuaywYFr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tega (@cfctega_) December 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Saudi league is a highly paid retirement home for players like Ronaldo who can pretend being relevant. He isn\u2019t & hasn\u2019t been for some time. Playing for Portugal in the European Championship was sad & embarrassing. So many talented players on their bench watching him in decline<\/p>\n \u2014 Martyn Warwick Socialist\ud83c\udf39\u270aPalestine\u2019s a State\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\udded (@martynwarwick) December 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n One of the things I love about Ronaldo is he never bends over for Institutions like France football, UEFA and FIFA he says the things as they are, never showed double standards, no wonder why every single institution hates him and robbed him so many times. https:\/\/t.co\/LicK6PY8cO<\/p>\n \u2014 . (@ascii__0) December 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In the future, Ronaldo’s son will explain his father’s actions on the day Messi achieved World Cup victory. Honestly, things haven’t been the same for him since that moment.<\/p>\n \u2014 Nn\u00e1md\u00ed (@__Nnamdi_) December 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The greatest of all time Ronaldo is telling you Vinicius deserves it but \u201cRascalRodri\u201d on Twitter will tell you the awards was fair https:\/\/t.co\/pLObKoeaVP<\/p>\n \u2014 \u034f\u034f\u034f\ud835\udc09\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc32 \u2316 (@cagiago_) December 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n FKA\/MA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Cristiano](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/606\/60677242.295.jpg\" "\\"Cristiano")
Cristiano Ronaldo, five-time Ballon d’Or winner<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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