Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Rodri, Kylian Mbappe, Champions League
Luke Davies
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Rodri, Kylian Mbappe, Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo shockingly snubbed Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Real Madrid's Vini Jr when naming the players he thinks are most likely to win future Ballon d’Ors.
Ronaldo, 40, boasts the second most Ballon d’Or crowns (five) of all time, with Lionel Messi currently the only player to have won more (eight).
Manchester City’s Rodri, 28, won the 2024 edition of the award despite Real Madrid forward Vini Jr seemingly being the favourite ahead of the ceremony, which took place in Paris, France, in October.
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Vini Jr, 24, was part of Los Blancos’ double-winning side, which lifted the 2023/24 La Liga title and the Champions League.
And the Brazilian will no doubt be in the running for this year’s prize, although his teammate Kylian Mbappé may have something to say about that.
Given the fact there is no major international tournament this summer, Salah, 32, will also fancy his chances of securing his first Ballon d’Or, having already registered 30 goals and 21 assists in 38 appearances for Premier League leaders Liverpool this season.
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However, Ronaldo did not mention the Egyptian forward when he named the four players who he thinks will win the Ballon d’Or in the coming years.
“I think [Kylian Mbappe] will do well,” said Ronaldo when speaking alongside Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel last year.
“The structure of the club [Real Madrid]… it’s nice, it’s good. They have a great coach and the president, Florentino [Pérez], who has been there many, many years.
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“I think it won’t be a big problem because of his talent. Mbappé can be the next golden ball [Ballon d’Or] winner for the next years. Him, [Erling] Haaland, [Jude] Bellingham, Lamine [Yamal]. This new generation has a lot of potential.
“Madrid is the kind of team they don’t rush under pressure. People say they’re lucky in the Champions [League]. No, they are not lucky. They’re prepared for this kind of moment. The Bernabeu has that different aura.
“Now, if you say that Madrid is going to be better or not, we don’t know. Mbappe is there now, I think Madrid will keep strong, but I don’t know if they will be better than last year. Only God knows.”