Cristiano Ronaldo raged at a Ballon d’Or organiser and even accused them of lying after Lionel Messi won the coveted award in 2021.
Ronaldo, who remains on five Ballon d’Or awards, is expected to fall even further behind his eternal rival on October 30 when Messi claims his eighth title.
Just this week a report claimed the Inter Miami superstar would win the award for 2023 after his outstanding World Cup triumph with Argentina.
The last time that Messi picked up the iconic golden ball was two years ago, beating Robert Lewandowski in a controversial decision.
That night, Ronaldo embarked on a social media rant after organiser Pascal Ferre claimed the Portuguese’s “only” career ambition was to finish on more Ballons d’Or than Messi.
Ferre, editor-in-chief of the magazine France Football, which presents the Ballon d’Or, told the New York Times: “Ronaldo has only one ambition, and that is to retire with more Ballons d’Or than Messi, and I know that because he has told me.”
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Angrily responding to Ferre’s comments, Ronaldo hit back by accusing him of lying and said he’s always championed “sportsmanship”.
Writing on Instagram, the former Manchester United player said: “Today’s outcome explains why Pascal Ferre’s statements last week, when he stated that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Golden Balls than Lionel Messi.
“Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for. It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d’Or.
“And he lied again today, justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist. I always want to congratulate those who win, within the sportsmanship and fair-play that have guided my career since the beginning, and I do it because I’m never against anyone.
“I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don’t win against anyone. The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team in my country.
“The biggest ambition of my career is to be a good example for all those who are or want to be professional footballers. The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football.
“I will end by saying that my focus is already on Manchester United’s next game and on everything that, together with my team-mates and our fans, we can still achieve this season. The rest? The rest is just the rest…”
