Cristiano Ronaldo slams Ballon d'Or organizers over lies and inconsistencies

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has heavily criticized French Football and Ballon d'Or organizers over what he calls lies and irregularities in the organization of the prestigious award. (Photo credit: ESPN)

Portugal and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has lashed out at the organizers of the Ballon d’Or award and the editor-in-chief of the famous France Football Pascal Ferre that he lied against him and only leveraged his popularity to push his agenda.

Ferre had told the New York Times last week that Ronaldo’s sole ambition and drive is to beat Lionel Messi to more awards and accolades.

"Ronaldo has only one ambition, and that is to retire with more Ballons d'Or than Messi," Ferre said. "I know that because he has told me." The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has come out to strongly reject this claim by the French Football stalwart.

"Today's outcome explains why Pascal Ferre's statements last week, when he said that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Ballons d'Or than Lionel Messi," Ronaldo said.

"Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for.

"It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d'Or.

"And he lied again today, justifying my absence from the Gala with a supposed quarantine that has no reason to exist or be carried out."

"I always want to congratulate those who win, within the sportsmanship and fair play that have guided my career since the beginning, and I do it because I'm never against anyone," Ronaldo added.

"I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don't win against someone.

"The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team in my country.

"The biggest ambition of my career is to be a good example for all those who are or want to be professional footballers.

"The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football.

"I will end by saying that my focus is already on Manchester United's next game and on everything that, together with my teammates and our fans, we can still achieve this season.

"The rest? The rest is just the rest."