Cristiano Ronaldo’s Sole Ambition: Surpass Lionel Messi in Ballon D ‘or Titles by the End of His Career
Cristiano Ronaldo’s ultimate aspiration is to conclude his illustrious career with a greater number of Ballon d’Or triumphs than his longstanding rival, Lionel Messi. This revelation comes directly from Pascal Ferre, the chief of the prestigious award, who is responsible for presenting the trophy annually.
Having already secured the Ballon d’Or on five occasions, Ronaldo holds the record for the most nominations with an impressive tally of 17, yet he remains one step behind Messi. The Argentine maestro is widely regarded as the frontrunner for this year’s accolade, which would elevate his total to seven, further extending his lead over Ronaldo.
Ferre disclosed Ronaldo’s burning desire to surpass Messi, stating, “Ronaldo has only one ambition, and that is to retire with more Ballon d’Or titles than Messi, and I know this because he personally confided in me,” as reported by Marca.
However, it appears that Ronaldo’s wish may not materialize this year, if the leaked results are to be believed. As per reports, the coveted award has been prematurely revealed, with Messi purportedly emerging as the victor once again, while Karim Benzema, recently embroiled in a scandalous blackmail case, secured second place. Controversially, Robert Lewandowski finished third in the rankings.
The last time Ronaldo claimed the prestigious honor was in 2016, while Messi triumphed at the most recent ceremony in 2019. Luka Modric, who tearfully celebrated his victory upon receiving the news, preceded Messi. Ferre emphasized the importance of maintaining secrecy surrounding the winner, stating, “We are extremely cautious. The identity of the Ballon d’Or recipient is a well-guarded secret. I don’t think there is a comparable situation in the realm of sports.”
Although Ronaldo was included in this year’s shortlist of eleven players, he is not regarded as a favorite for the award. Despite not reaching his usual extraordinary heights since his return to England in the summer, the Portuguese talisman has single-handedly propelled Manchester United in the Champions League with a series of late goals. Moreover, earlier this season, he solidified his position as the most prolific goalscorer in the history of international football, adding another remarkable feat to his already impressive resume.
