The 2024 Ballon d’Or, claimed by Rodri, sparked numerous reactions among players, including a strong message from Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star reached out with words of support for Vinicius Junior.
Having won the Ballon d’Or five times and finished as runner-up on six occasions, Ronaldo shared a message on social media on Tuesday, October 28, apparently directed at Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward, Vinicius Jr. This gesture followed Vinicius’s loss at the Paris ceremony on Monday, despite being one of the top contenders for the award.
“Every challenge is an opportunity to grow,” wrote the Portuguese star, sharing his words alongside a photo of himself in a Real Madrid jersey.
Although Ronaldo didn’t directly mention Vinicius or the 2024 Ballon d’Or organizers, his message left little doubt about his stance regarding the ceremony, which saw Spanish midfielder Rodri crowned as the world’s best player.
For many fans, Ronaldo’s message is seen as a powerful lesson aimed at Vinicius, who finished in second place behind Rodri in the voting.
It’s worth noting that Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times, although for several years he had to watch his Argentine rival Lionel Messi take the title—despite widespread belief that Ronaldo deserved it. His victories came in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2017, and he also finished as runner-up six times, similar to Vinicius this year, with second-place finishes in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2018.
Now in the final stages of his legendary career, Ronaldo plays for the Saudi club Al-Nassr, which he joined in early 2023 after the Qatar World Cup. Since moving to Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese star has continued to score, defying retirement predictions even at the age of 40.
His record is remarkable, including five UEFA Champions League titles—one with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid—as well as major victories with Portugal, such as the Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League. He also has four FIFA Club World Cup wins to his name: one with Manchester United and three with Real Madrid.
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