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Ronaldo Dismisses 2025 Ballon d’Or As “Fictional” In Blunt Response
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He praised Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres after his move from Sporting.
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Sporting signed Luis Suarez to replace Gyokeres following his Premier League transfer.
Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed questions about the 2025 Ballon d’Or, calling the award “fictional” before abruptly ending the discussion.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or was unveiled on Friday, August 8, with the Al-Nassr forward missing out on a nomination for the third consecutive year. Ronaldo, who recently scored a hat-trick in a pre-season game against Rio Ave, was asked by Sport TV Portugal to name his pick for the award but brushed off the subject entirely.
“Ballon d’Or? That’s fictional to me!” Ronaldo said before walking away from the interview.
His remarks contrast with comments made in June, when he suggested the trophy should be awarded to a player who had won the UEFA Champions League. At the time, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner named Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Vitinha, and Ousmane Dembélé as deserving candidates.
Shifting away from the award debate, Ronaldo also praised Arsenal’s summer acquisition Viktor Gyokeres, who moved from Sporting Lisbon after an exceptional spell in Portugal.
“Gyokeres was a special player, but the team [Sporting] will have to adapt,” Ronaldo told Metro UK, adding that he hopes Sporting will remain competitive in the new season.
Gyokeres scored 97 goals in just over 100 appearances for Sporting before joining the Premier League club. In a bid to replace his firepower, Sporting signed Luis Suarez from Almeria.
Ronaldo, who started his professional career at Sporting, remains hopeful for his boyhood club’s prospects. “I always hope for the best for Sporting and that they can be champions again,” he said.
