Cristiano Ronaldo was not included in the list of nominees for the Golden ball». For the first time in 19 years, the Portuguese is not competing for the main individual award in world football. The event is expected, but that doesn’t make it any less significant. Is the Ronaldo era over?
Cristiano was among the candidates for the prize for the first time in 2004. The victory was then won by Andrei Shevchenko, ahead of Deco and Ronaldinho. Ronaldo took 12th place, receiving the same number of votes with Milan Baros from Liverpool.
Back then, no one suspected the beginning of the Portuguese's dominance. In 2007, the award was won by the Brazilian Kaká, while second and third places went to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Thus began the confrontation between the Portuguese and the Argentinean — over the next 14 years, 12 times the prize went to one of them. Only Luka Modric managed to get into the “duel” in 2018. Once again the presentation was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year the list of nominees may not have been published. Everyone understands that the award with a 99.9% probability will go to Messi. The Argentinean fulfilled his cherished dream — he won the World Championship. All others pale before such an achievement.
However, Messi has worthy rivals. Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne won the treble with Manchester City. Erling Haaland was also with them, who at the same time broke the scoring record in the Premier League. Vinicius Junior shone at Real Madrid, and Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe was a leader in PSG and the French national team, and Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia brought Napoli the long-awaited championship.
Ronaldo's season looks weak compared to them. He played little at Manchester United under Erik ten Haag and left the club in December in scandal. At the World Cup, Portugal was eliminated in the quarterfinals, and Cristiano himself was no longer considered an undisputed first-team player. In the playoff matches, Ronaldo appeared on the field only from the bench, and without him the team looked no worse.
Leaving Manchester United and losing his leadership position in the national team seriously damaged the status of the Portuguese star. My departure to Saudi Arabia had an even greater impact. And it’s not about the level of the local championship. The main thing is that none of the top European clubs needed Cristiano.
Ronaldo scored a lot at Al-Nasr (and continues to do so), but even in Saudi Arabia he did not win anything. Perhaps the award organizers would like to include him in the list of nominees, but they simply have nothing to grab onto. A year ago, due to an unsuccessful season, a similar situation occurred with Messi. Therefore, the appearance of Ronaldo among the candidates could turn into a scandal.
And the Portuguese himself was probably unlikely to be upset. Last year he was nominated, but no one voted for the forward. Although even such “stars” as Sebastien Halle and Luis Diaz received points. This time the voting will probably end with Messi's triumph. In such a situation, getting the steering wheel again would be simply humiliating for Cristiano.
Ronaldo has already stated that the rivalry with Messi is a thing of the past, and here it is difficult to argue with him. Both players left Europe and are no longer competing for the most prestigious trophies, even in absentia. A football retirement awaits them — wonderful, rich in goals and awards, but far from the main events.
Leo, perhaps, was a little stronger in this duel. But it was Ronaldo's desire to be at the top that made the rivalry so fundamental. Thanks to the Portuguese, there was no era of Messi dominance in football. Now it’s all over, and that makes me a little sad.
The author’s opinion may not coincide with the position of the editors