SUMMARY
- Cristiano Ronaldo had a successful year, as he ended 2023 as the highest goal scorer with 54 goals.
- Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or trophy in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a swipe at Lionel Messi at the recently held Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. Ronaldo had a successful year, as he ended 2023 as the highest goal scorer with 54 goals. Ronaldo won the Maradona Award for being the top goalscorer and was voted the Best Middle East Player. However, the Portuguese ace brutally mocked Messi by raising questions about his recent achievements.
Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or trophy in 2023 and his eighth The Best FIFA award in January 2024. While Messi faced tough competition from Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo was completely out of the picture. Moreover, it was the first time since 2003 that the Al-Nassr star failed to make the 30-man list for the Ballon d’Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t been included in the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist for the first time in 20 years 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nXtS1FKOlX
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 6, 2023
Since Messi’s win, there have been several questions raised over the credibility of the awards. However, Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest in line to call out the Argentine star’s win. Speaking to Record, Ronaldo said, “I think that, in a way, the Ballon d’Or and The Best are losing credibility.” Claiming that he doesn’t believe in winning the Ballon d’Or or The Best anymore, Ronaldo claimed that he has numbers to back his claim.
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “I think that, in a way, the Ballon d’Or and The Best are losing credibility. It’s not to say that Messi didn’t deserve it, or Haaland or even Mbappé. I simply don’t believe in these awards anymore. And It’s not because I won at Globe Soccer. But they’re… pic.twitter.com/Gf0HnYVD12
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) January 21, 2024
The Portuguese skipper further stated that he wasn’t saying this because he won the Globe Soccer Award. He stated that he was happy that he won the Globe Soccer Award and that nobody could take it away since he deserved it. However, Ronaldo did clarify that he wasn’t claiming that Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe do not deserve to win their awards.
Fans condemn Cristiano Ronaldo for taking a swipe at Lionel Messi yet again
This hasn’t been the first instance that Cristiano Ronaldo has aimed a dig at Lionel Messi. Following Messi’s Ballon d’Or win in 2021, Ronaldo left a comment on a post that discredited Messi’s win and instead claimed that Ronaldo should have been the deserving winner. The former Real Madrid star wrote, “Factos“, which means “facts” in Portuguese, on that post.
Most recently, Ronaldo again left a series of laughing emojis on a video of Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero, who claimed that Messi’s recent Ballon d’Or win was undeserved. Ronaldo’s comments haven’t gone down well with the fans, with one fan even commenting, “What an insecure crybaby.” Several fans also called out the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for his unsportsmanlike attitude.
A look at Lionel Messi’s stats in comparison to Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe
Over the last few months, Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best win have come under scrutiny because of their legitimacy. While there’s no denying Messi’s greatness, many feel that Haaland deserved to win the awards ahead of Messi. However, the biggest selling point behind Messi winning the awards is the Argentine’s World Cup win in 2022.
“From 19th December onwards”
Stats since then:
Lionel Messi — 28 goals 12 assists 44 games (14 of Messi’s g/a came with Inter Miami)
Erling Haaland — 52 goals & 12 assists 59 games
Kylian Mbappe — 52 goals & 14 assists in 53 gamesAnd Messi wins the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2023. https://t.co/AwyVPdiMVU
— NATS T ABUBAKARI 🇵🇸 (@Nats20122351) January 16, 2024
Nevertheless, here’s a look at Messi, Haaland, and Mbappe’s stats for 2023 to get a better understanding of how the three performed. Since the World Cup ended, Erling Haaland has had 52 goals and 12 assists in 59 games. Mbappe managed to score 52 goals and provide 14 assists in 53 games. However, Haaland and Mbappe’s stats completely dwarf Messi’s, who has scored 28 goals and 12 assists in 44 games.
