Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to vote for Ballon d'Or 2024 awards

The Portuguese has not been nominated for the first time since 2003.

Ballon d’Or chief suggests Cristiano Ronaldo was ‘very angry’ after not making the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees which has led to the striker abstaining from voting and ceremony.

The award’s chief Vincent Garcia has revealed that Ronaldo has decided to refuse voting and attending the event following the award rulings.

Ronaldo has won the award five times in his career, but his last prize came in 2017. Meanwhile, his rival Lionel Messi has eclipsed him in competition and has won the accolade three times more.

Messi is currently the holder of the Ballon d’Or and won it last year after leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, in the current nominees, both of them have failed to be named on the list which is for the first time in 21 years.

Garcia is currently the editor of France Football, the publication that has awarded the prize, has revealed that he is unsure whether Ronaldo will attend the ceremony, and if he will also vote for the best players, speaking to the times he further said:

“Winners have the right to come back to all future ceremonies but they don’t all come, some are very upset with us. I don’t know for certain what Cristiano is, I don’t talk to him directly, but I know for example that former winners vote for the Kopa Trophy – for the best young player – and Cristiano didn’t vote last year and he didn’t vote this year either.”

Both players are currently playing for MLS Inter Miami and Saudi Pro League Al Nassr respectively, but Garcia believes that had their names been in the nominees could have attracted more attention: “If they were on the shortlist this year, I’m sure they would have got some votes.”

The 2024 Ballon d’Or will take place on Monday, with Jude Bellingham and Rodri competing each other for the prize, but many reports reveal that Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr will land the award.

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