Cristiano Ronaldo has once again stirred the pot around the criteria for winning the Ballon d’Or. Ahead of the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain, the Portuguese star said he believes that “whoever shines and wins the Champions League should win it.” But he also added that he doesn’t put much stock in individual awards anymore: “I know what goes on behind the scenes. Individual trophies have lost their value.”

Flashback to 2013

Those comments didn’t go unnoticed by Franck Ribéry, who fired back with a sarcastic post on social media: “So you NEED to win the Champions League to get the Ballon d’Or?” wrote the former French winger. He was clearly referring to the infamous 2013 snub, when—despite winning the treble with Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League)—the award went to Cristiano Ronaldo.

That season, Ribéry was key for Bayern, scoring 11 goals and providing 23 assists. Yet he only came in third in the voting, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano, who, while netting 55 goals that year, didn’t win a single trophy with Real Madrid. To make things more controversial, the voting deadline was extended after Ronaldo’s hat trick against Sweden in the 2014 World Cup playoff—a move that still sparks debate today.

A comment that reignites the debate

Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent comments, where he also name-dropped Ousmane Dembélé, Vitinha, and Lamine Yamal as possible Ballon d’Or contenders, have caused quite a stir—mainly because they contradict the logic used when he won in 2013.

Now retired, Ribéry didn’t hesitate to use sarcasm to reopen an old wound and show his disagreement with how the award is decided. Meanwhile, the discussion over what matters more—team trophies or individual brilliance—is as hot as ever. With the 2024 season wrapping up and plenty of big names in the mix, the Ballon d’Or is once again surrounded by controversy. And this time, like so often these days, social media is where the debate is raging.