CRISTIANO RONALDO HAS suggested that rival Lionel Messi didn’t deserve to win the World Cup Golden Ball award this summer after the Real Madrid star joked he would be sent to prison if he gave his real opinion.
Messi beat the likes of World Cup winner Thomas Muller and Colombia’s James Rodriguez to the prestigious individual award after scoring four goals in Brazil and steering Argentina to the final, which they lost to Germany.
Argentina legend Maradona revealed that he thought Fifa’s decision to award Messi with the prize was based on commercial reasons, and Ronaldo has now hinted that the Barcelona star did not do enough during football’s greatest competition to win the Golden Ball.
“If I said everything that I think, I would be in prison,” Ronaldo, who picked up Uefa’s Player of the Year award this week, told TVI when asked about his thoughts on whether his Barca rival had earned the award.
“Everyone can see, make their own judgements, the people in the world of football are intelligent.
“It would be a very interesting question for him. I cannot be honest about it.”
Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry has been ever-present on and off the pitch for over half a decade now, with the Portuguese getting one over on the Argentine in the Ballon d’Or earlier this year after losing out on the accolade to the Barca forward for four consecutive years previously.
Messi didn’t deserve it, everyone can see that, but Ronaldo should stop focusing his attention on Messi. Ronaldo has created this bad blood between them because of his desperation to be branded the #1 player. Messi seems like he couldn’t care less about awards and accolades, and just wants to play football.
But isn’t it more fun when rivals talk about each other? I think things would be a little boring otherwise..
What!? Ronaldo hasn’t created any bad blood between the two, he can’t help it if the media won’t stop asking him about Messi.
It’s nice to see some honesty from a footballer for once anyway.
Well said
Be probably thinks it should have been him.
*That won it
He probably thinks it should have been him that won it.
Subjective awards like World player of the year are meaningless in football.
I dont think Mr Ronaldo agrees with you
Mess I has style ronaldo is a good shelf product
Messi himself didn’t feel like he deserved to win it either
At least messi made an effort in Brazil. Ronaldo was a disgrace. Poseur. Talented but still a prat.