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Cristiano Ronaldo has shrugged off questions about who should win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, describing the award as “fictional” before abruptly ending the conversation.
Naija News reports that the 2025 Ballon d’Or shortlist was announced on Friday, August 8, and for the third year in a row, Cristiano Ronaldo was not nominated.
The Al-Nassr captain, who scored a hat-trick in a recent pre-season clash against Rio Ave, was asked by a reporter to name his pick for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Instead, the five-time winner dismissed the relevance of the award.
“Ballon d’Or? That’s fictional to me!” Ronaldo told Sport TV Portugal before walking away.
His comments mark a shift from his earlier stance in June, when he suggested the trophy should go to a player who has lifted the UEFA Champions League.
At the time, he highlighted Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Vitinha, and Ousmane Dembélé as worthy candidates.
Away from the Ballon d’Or debate, Ronaldo also praised Arsenal’s summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who joined from Sporting Lisbon after an outstanding spell in Portugal.
“Gyokeres was a special player, but the team [Sporting] will have to adapt,” Ronaldo told Metro UK, adding that he hopes Sporting remain competitive.
The Swedish striker netted an astonishing 97 goals in just over 100 appearances for Sporting before making the switch to the Premier League. In response, the Portuguese club signed Luis Suarez from Almeria to help fill the void.
Ronaldo, who began his career at Sporting, remains optimistic: “I always hope for the best for Sporting and that they can be champions again.”
The post Cristiano Ronaldo Dismisses Ballon d’Or As ‘Fictional’, Hails Arsenal’s Gyokeres As ‘Special’ appeared first on Naija News.
