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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Portuguese icon won Golden Ball in 2008</li><li>Has taken his tally to five</li><li>Argentine rival has eight triumphs on his CV</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Cristiano Ronaldo admits to 'anger' over Ballon d'Or defeats to Lionel Messi as Real Madrid icon claims award has lost all 'credibility' after Vinicius Junior's 2024 snub

<p>Portuguese superstar Ronaldo was the first of that pair to claim a Golden Ball in 2008. He then saw Messi enjoy a run of four successive triumphs, before <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-ex-barcelona-portugal-star-deco-diplomatic-ideal-world-answer-goat-debate/bltd40c84d158ed2236" target="_blank">emerging victorious in four out of five years</a> between 2013 and 2017.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Ronaldo has been unable to add to his tally since then, while Messi has pulled clear with eight successes. CR7 <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ballon-d-or-chief-suggests-cristiano-ronaldo-very-upset-award-ruling-cr7-abstains-voting-ceremony/blt7a7b8cbb6636289d" target="_blank">feels he was treated a little harshly at times</a>, with remarkable standards being maintained at Real Madrid as he became their all-time leading goalscorer.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Current Blancos star Vinicius Junior was beaten to the Ballon d’Or by Manchester City midfielder Rodri in 2024, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/rodri-responds-unfair-cristiano-ronaldo-ballon-d-or-claim-man-city-midfielder-revealing-surprise-vinicius-junior-comment-five-time-golden-ball-winner/blt90aeb6cdd09da37a" target="_blank">a decision that Ronaldo disagrees with</a>, and he has told <a href="https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/deportes/futbol/analisis-cristiano-edu-aguirre-mbappe-estuviera-madrid-ensenaria_2025020367a06ef4e95c0600018520f7.html " target="_blank"><em>La Sexta</em></a> of the prize not always going to the most worthy recipient: “There is no credibility, Vinicius should be the Ballon d'Or winner. I have felt it many times and I felt angry. Over time I understood it, these are battles that you cannot win.”</p>

WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

<p>Ronaldo has never been one to waste energy reflecting on the past, with the Al-Nassr forward – who is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/still-very-good-cristiano-ronaldo-year-or-two-future-admission-al-nassr-superstar-play-on-into-40s/blt389715975465574d" target="_blank">still going strong as he prepares to turn 40 years of age</a> – adding on his achievements: “Something often has to happen to you for you to appreciate everything you've been through. I'm such a competitive person that sometimes I forget what I've achieved. If someone else were in my position, I would have quit football 10 years ago. I'm different.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>It is that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-more-dreams-al-nassr-portugal-star-900th-career-goal-aged-39/bltb7aa635ded895fc4" target="_blank">drive that has kept Ronaldo at the top</a> of his game for so long, with there no sign of him stepping aside any time soon. He <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-declares-himself-goat-ahead-lionel-messi-diego-maradona-pele-al-nassr-critics-lying/blt9887b0464a57622c" target="_blank">considers himself to be the greatest player of all-time</a>, regardless of what Messi fans may think of that, and still has more <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-final-career-goals-man-utd-coach-cr7-objectives-lebron-james-target-involving-portuguese-goat-son/blt9b4b88b27269a562" target="_blank">trophy targets and historic goal records to chase down</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Cristiano Ronaldo admits to 'anger' over Ballon d'Or defeats to Lionel Messi as Real Madrid icon claims award has lost all 'credibility' after Vinicius Junior's 2024 snub | Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo admits to being left feeling “angry” over some of his Ballon d’Or defeats to eternal rival Lionel Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo admits to &apos;anger&apos; over Ballon d&apos;Or defeats to Lionel Messi as Real Madrid icon claims award has lost all &apos;credibility&apos; after Vinicius Junior&apos;s 2024 snub