Cristiano Ronaldo Refuses to Be Drawn on ‘Fictitious’ Ballon d’Or After Falling Three Behind Lionel Messi

The Five-Time Winner Dismisses Golden Ball Hype as Rivalry with Messi Continues to Define an Era

Cristiano Ronaldo has never been shy about speaking his mind — whether it’s on the pitch with his feet or off it with a sharp, quotable line. But when the subject of the Ballon d’Or came up again this week, the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward made it clear he wasn’t interested in playing that game anymore.

“That’s fictitious to me,” Cristiano Ronaldo told SportTV when asked about the award that has defined football’s most glamorous narrative for nearly two decades. His tone was dismissive, almost weary, as if the Golden Ball — which he’s lifted five times — had long since lost its shine in his eyes.

A Rivalry That Shaped a Generation

It’s impossible to talk about the Ballon d’Or without talking about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. For years, the two giants traded the trophy back and forth like heavyweight champions exchanging belts. Cristiano Ronaldo’s fifth and most recent triumph in 2017 put him level with Messi at the time, both men sitting atop the footballing world with five each.

Back then, the debate was white-hot: who was the greatest of all time? Every goal, every trophy, every individual award was fuel for the fire. The media loved it. Fans lived for it. And the players — well, they rarely admitted it, but you could tell it mattered.

Since then, the balance has shifted. Messi has gone on to claim three more Ballon d’Or titles, bringing his total to eight, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally has stayed the same. On paper, that’s a decisive lead for the Argentine. In reality, Ronaldo seems uninterested in conceding any ground in the so-called GOAT debate.

Why ‘Fictitious’?

To call the Ballon d’Or “fictitious” is to poke at the very heart of how football measures greatness. The award, decided by journalists, captains, and coaches, has always been subjective.

Ronaldo’s point, perhaps, is that such accolades can never truly capture the value of a player’s career. Statistics, moments, influence — these things are lived, not voted on. And in his mind, the work he’s done on the pitch over two decades speaks louder than any trophy handed out at a Paris gala.

It’s also worth remembering that Cristiano Ronaldo has had his fair share of grievances with award decisions in the past. He’s publicly questioned certain results, hinted at bias, and made no secret of his competitive streak. This new dismissal could be part philosophy, part frustration.

A Career Beyond Numbers

Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d’Or 2008

For a man who’s broken more records than most strikers could dream of, Cristiano Ronaldo’s CV is staggering:

• Five Ballon d’Or titles

• Five Champions League trophies

• Seven league titles across England, Spain, and Italy

• The all-time leading goalscorer in men’s professional football

• Winner of Euro 2016 and the Nations League with Portugal

And yet, ask him today, and it’s clear his focus is not on the past but the present — and, crucially, the future. The Portuguese legend has just committed to two more years in the Saudi Pro League, where he continues to score goals and draw global attention to Al-Nassr.

The Class of 2025

While Cristiano Ronaldo brushes off the Ballon d’Or chatter, others are chasing it with everything they’ve got. The 2025 shortlist is stacked with talent, including three of his Portuguese compatriots: Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes — all of whom ply their trade at Paris Saint-Germain.

For them, the Ballon d’Or remains the pinnacle, the golden stamp of individual excellence. They’re at the stage of their careers where such recognition can define their market value, their reputation, and their place in history.

It’s an intriguing dynamic — Cristiano Ronaldo, the elder statesman, dismissing the award’s relevance, while a new generation, inspired in part by him, fights tooth and nail to win it.

The Messi Factor

Of course, you can’t talk about Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with the Ballon d’Or without talking about Lionel Messi. The Argentine’s record-breaking eighth win in 2023 felt, to many, like the closing chapter in their award rivalry.

Messi’s 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina was a defining moment — the missing piece in his glittering career — and likely pushed him over the line in the voting. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, was adjusting to life in Saudi Arabia after a turbulent end to his time in Europe.

For fans of Messi, the numbers are clear: eight is greater than five. For fans of Cristiano Ronaldo, the argument goes deeper — into the quality of competition faced, the consistency over decades, the sheer willpower to keep scoring at the highest levels well into his late 30s.

Focused on the Game, Not the Gala

When Ronaldo cut short the Ballon d’Or discussion this week, it wasn’t with bitterness. It was with intent. At 40, he’s still playing, still scoring, still drawing packed stadiums in a league that only a few years ago was barely on the radar of most European fans.

In his mind, perhaps, every minute spent discussing “what might have been” is a minute not spent making something happen now. And if there’s one thing Ronaldo has always valued, it’s the next goal, the next win, the next challenge.

Life in Saudi Arabia

His move to Al-Nassr in early 2023 was met with skepticism by some — a “retirement league” move, critics called it. But Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival has helped transform the Saudi Pro League into one of the fastest-growing competitions in the world. Big-name signings have followed, TV rights have expanded, and stadium attendances have surged.

On the pitch, Ronaldo has been as ruthless as ever. His goals and assists have kept Al-Nassr competing for domestic and continental honours, and his presence has raised the profile of the club to unprecedented levels.

Signing a new two-year contract shows his commitment isn’t just financial — he genuinely sees a project worth investing in, both for himself and for the development of the sport in the region.

What Comes Next

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal 2025

The Ballon d’Or may be “fictitious” in Ronaldo’s eyes, but legacy is not. Every goal he scores in Riyadh, every trophy he lifts, every young player he inspires adds to the story.

In two years’ time, when his Al-Nassr deal ends, he will be 42. Whether that’s the point he hangs up his boots or simply the start of another chapter remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Ronaldo has no interest in being remembered for awards he didn’t win. He wants to be remembered for the football he played and the impact he had — on and off the pitch.

The Final Word

Cristiano Ronaldo’s dismissal of the Ballon d’Or as “fictitious” isn’t just a throwaway line — it’s a statement of priorities. At this stage of his career, he’s not chasing golden statues; he’s chasing moments, memories, and milestones that matter to him.

The Messi comparison will always be there, woven into the fabric of modern football. But for Cristiano Ronaldo, the competition that really matters now is the one in front of him — the next match, the next goal, the next victory.

And perhaps that’s the real message: greatness isn’t measured by a trophy in a cabinet. It’s measured by the will to keep going, even when there’s nothing left to prove.