Cristiano Ronaldo’s Mother Claims The 'Football Mafia' Robbed Her Son Of The Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo's mother has blasted the so-called "football mafia" by accusing them of robbing her son of the Ballon d'Or in 2018.

The Juventus superstar, 34, finished second in the race for France Football's coveted prize behind former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.

According to Goal, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro has now suggested that her son wouldn't have suffered injustice from the football mafia if he were "Spanish or English."

She told the Portuguese press: "There is a mafia. That's the right word to define it.

"Yes, there is a mafia in football.

"If there wasn't a football mafia, my son would have more [individual] international trophies.

"If you see everything that happened, you will realise that it is the mafia.

"If he was Spanish or English, they would not do what they did to him.

"But since he's Portuguese and from Madeira... well, this happens."

Ronaldo's two sisters -- Elma and Katia Aveiro -- both slammed Ronaldo's snub for a record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or on Instagram.

In December last year, Elma posted a picture of the ex-Manchester United star holding the Ballon d'Or and wrote: "Unfortunately this is the world we live in, rotten, with mafia and f******g money.

"The power of God is a lot greater than all this rottenness. God takes his time but he doesn't fail."

Katia also posted the same image of Ronaldo and wrote: "Best player in the world... for those who understand football of course."

Ronaldo, who is on the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or, admitted in September that he wants to win more Ballon d'Ors than fierce rival Lionel Messi.

"I would love it, and I think I deserve [the Ballon d'Or]," he told Piers Morgan in ITV's Cristiano Ronaldo Meets Piers Morgan.

"Messi is a fantastic guy, a fantastic player.

"He's in the history of football -- but I think I have to have six or seven or eight to be above him.

"My relationship with him is, we are not friends, but we have shared this stage for 15 years.

"I have a good relationship with him and I know that he has pushed me to be a better player and I have pushed him to be a better player as well."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Football, Serie A, France Football, Ballon d'Or, old lady, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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