Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed the significance of the Ballon d’Or, calling it “fictional” when asked to name his pick for the 2025 award.

The Al-Nassr captain, who has won the prestigious trophy five times in his career, was speaking to reporters after scoring a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly against Rio Ave. When a journalist pressed him to reveal his choice for the upcoming Ballon d’Or, the Portuguese forward refused and walked away, saying:

“Ballon d’Or? That’s fictional to me!”

 

Ronaldo’s comment comes just months after he suggested that the award should only go to players who have won the UEFA Champions League. At the time, he mentioned Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Vitinha, and Ousmane Dembélé as worthy names.

His latest remarks have sparked debate among fans, with some agreeing that the Ballon d’Or has become more about popularity than performance. In contrast, others believe it remains football’s highest individual honour.

With the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, Ronaldo’s statement has added fresh intrigue to the conversation over who should take home the prize this year.