Cristiano Ronaldo caused a stir with his shocking statement about the 2025 Golden Ball: “Dembélé is the worst choice in many years”

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar, once again made the world football world shake when he spoke about the results of the 2025 Golden Ball. According to CR7, giving the most prestigious title in world football to Ousmane Dembélé was a “serious mistake” and caused this award to lose some of its inherent value.

Ronaldo frankly shared: “I think this is one of the worst Golden Balls in recent years. Dembélé does not deserve it. Lamine Yamal is also a bright candidate, but he lacks a few important titles. However, giving the award to Dembélé is clearly a mistake. He has never shown that he is really outstanding enough to deserve this title.”

A controversial name

Ousmane Dembélé, the French star, has had a career full of ups and downs with persistent injuries. However, in 2025, he suddenly shone brightly with his club and national team, winning a number of important titles to help himself make the final list of candidates. However, for Ronaldo, that was not enough for Dembélé to surpass other stars.

CR7 emphasized that football does not only rely on a few explosive matches or a few collective trophies. “To win the Ballon d’Or, you have to prove stability, outstanding difference throughout the season. Dembélé has talent, but he has never reached the level of a player who dominates world football. It is hard to believe that people voted for him.”

A reminder for Lamine Yamal

In his speech, Ronaldo also did not forget to mention Lamine Yamal – the 18-year-old Spanish football prodigy. CR7 believes that Yamal could have won the award if he had won a few more major titles. “Yamal is a player with a bright future. He lacks experience, but no one can deny his talent. If he had won 1-2 more collective titles, Yamal would definitely have won, not Dembélé.”

Mixed reactions from the public

Ronaldo’s statements immediately caused a storm on social media. A group of fans agreed with his point of view, saying that Dembélé was not really convincing and that this victory was just the result of a “political game” in football. Many opinions affirmed that the Golden Ball has gradually lost its inherent fairness, when the voting criteria are dominated by reputation and the media.

However, there are also many opinions against CR7. Some people think that Ronaldo is just jealous because he is no longer in the title race, so his statement lacks objectivity. “Dembélé deserved it because he fought and overcame difficulties to come back. This victory is a testament to his determination and relentless efforts,” commented a fan.

Is the Ballon d’Or still valuable?

The big question after Ronaldo’s statement is: Does the Ballon d’Or still maintain its prestige? Over the years, there have been many controversial results, causing fans to lose faith. The fact that Dembélé won in 2025, instead of the more highly rated faces, only increases skepticism about the transparency of the award.

Regardless, Cristiano Ronaldo’s blunt criticism will certainly be mentioned for a long time. It not only reflects the perspective of a football legend who has won the Ballon d’Or five times, but also provokes a widespread debate about the true value of the most prestigious individual award on the planet.