Cristiano Ronaldo Opts Out of Ballon d'Or Voting

Cristiano Ronaldo has chosen not to vote for the Ballon d'Or this year, as confirmed by Vincent Garcia, the award's chief, who noted that Ronaldo is among those 'very upset' with recent award decisions. This marks the first time in over 20 years that neither Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi are on the 30-man shortlist, a notable shift in the football landscape. Despite being a five-time winner, Ronaldo has not claimed the title since 2017 and expressed dissatisfaction with Messi's eighth win by liking an Instagram post criticizing it. Garcia explained that past winners can attend future ceremonies, but some, like Ronaldo, opt not to participate, indicating discontent within the football community regarding the awards. The Ballon d'Or ceremony is set to highlight new candidates such as Rodri and Vinicius Jr., who are seen as potential winners this year.