Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his perspective on how football’s most prestigious individual honor should be awarded. Speaking ahead of Portugal’s Nations League final against Spain on Sunday in Munich, the veteran forward emphasized that “trophies” should be the main criteria for selecting the Ballon d’Or winner.
“In my opinion, whoever wins it should be part of a team that has secured major trophies,” Ronaldo told reporters on Saturday. “The Ballon d’Or winner should ideally be in a team that has triumphed in the Champions League.”
Ronaldo, now 40 years old, remains one of the most influential voices in global football. His comments come just a week after Paris Saint-Germain delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final—a performance that has ignited discussions about potential Ballon d’Or contenders, particularly PSG winger Ousmane Dembélé, who played a key role in that triumph.
At the same time, rising star Lamine Yamal of Spain has made a strong case for himself. The teenage sensation has impressed throughout the season with Barcelona, and his recent performance in the Nations League semi-final—scoring twice in Spain’s thrilling 5-4 win over France—has many fans and pundits suggesting he could become the youngest Ballon d’Or recipient in history.
The Ballon d’Or, first awarded in 1956 by France Football magazine, honors the player deemed to have been the best in the world over the previous season. Ronaldo and long-time rival Lionel Messi dominated the award for over a decade, with Ronaldo winning it five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and Messi claiming a record eight titles.
The current holder of the award is Rodri, the Spanish midfield anchor for Manchester City, who helped guide his club to a historic treble in the 2022–23 season.
Ronaldo’s remarks are likely to stir fresh debate about the criteria used for the Ballon d’Or, especially in an era where individual brilliance and team achievements are often weighed differently. As the football world awaits the announcement of this year’s winner, one thing is clear: the road to the Ballon d’Or, in Ronaldo’s eyes, should go through Champions League glory.
