Cristiano Ronaldo - (REUTERS)
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport. His list of accomplishments includes numerous trophies, records, and individual awards. Ronaldo has won league titles in three different countries, lifted the Champions League trophy five times, and triumphed in the European Championships. He has also won five Ballons d’Or and has two Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year. Only Lionel Messi has surpassed Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or tally, securing eight of these prestigious awards. Additionally, both Ronaldo and Messi, along with Robert Lewandowski, have won FIFA’s The Best award twice.
Both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s The Best award are determined through voting. The Ballon d’Or takes into account votes from national team coaches and captains, while the award was merged with FIFA between 2010 and 2015. As the captain of Portugal, Ronaldo has had the privilege of voting in ten separate editions of either the Ballon d’Or or FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards, whereas Messi has only had the opportunity to vote once during that same period.
Ronaldo’s Voting History at the Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo has captained Portugal since 2008 and has cast his vote four times for the Ballon d’Or. Interestingly, he has never chosen Messi as his top pick. Let’s take a closer look at Ronaldo’s voting history for the Ballon d’Or:
2010
In 2010, Messi won his second Ballon d’Or, while Ronaldo finished in sixth place. Surprisingly, Ronaldo decided to give his first-place vote to Xavi Hernandez, who played a vital role in Spain’s World Cup victory that year. Additionally, Ronaldo voted for his Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas, who also impressed at the World Cup, and Wesley Sneijder, who shone in Inter Milan’s treble-winning campaign.
2013
Returning to the voting process in 2013, Ronaldo selected Radamel Falcao, Gareth Bale, and Mesut Ozil as his top three choices. It was a year of personal triumph for Ronaldo as he secured his second Ballon d’Or.
2014-2017
From 2014 to 2017, Ronaldo exclusively voted for his Real Madrid teammates across the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s The Best awards. In these four editions, Ronaldo consistently supported his fellow players, showcasing his belief in their exceptional abilities. The players who received Ronaldo’s votes during this period were Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, and Marcelo.
2018-2019
In 2018, Antoine Griezmann became the first non-Real Madrid player to receive Ronaldo’s vote in five years. Griezmann’s instrumental role in France’s World Cup victory earned him recognition from Ronaldo. Alongside Griezmann, Ronaldo also voted for Raphael Varane and Luka Modric.
The following year, Ronaldo was impressed by Ajax’s remarkable run to the Champions League semi-finals, leading him to vote for Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong. He also cast his vote for Kylian Mbappe, recognizing the young French talent’s exceptional performance.
Ronaldo’s Voting History at FIFA’s ‘The Best’ Awards
Since FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards were introduced in 2016, Ronaldo has consistently participated in the voting process, except for the previous year. Let’s delve into Ronaldo’s voting history for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards:
2016-2017
In 2016, Ronaldo voted for Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, and Sergio Ramos. The following year, he continued to support his Real Madrid teammates, casting his vote for Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, and Marcelo.
2018-2019
In 2018, Ronaldo recognized the outstanding performances of Raphael Varane, Luka Modric, and Antoine Griezmann, voting for them in FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards. The following year, Ronaldo’s votes went to Mathijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, and Kylian Mbappe.
2020-2021
In 2020, Ronaldo voted for Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe. The subsequent year, he once again supported Robert Lewandowski, this time accompanied by N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo’s voting history at both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards showcases his immense respect for his fellow players and his ability to recognize exceptional performances. While he has never chosen Lionel Messi as his top pick for the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo’s votes have consistently reflected his appreciation for talent and success. As Ronaldo continues to make his mark on the footballing world, his voting preferences provide an intriguing insight into his perspective on the game and its outstanding players.
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