Cristiano Ronaldo once again shined both on and off the pitch. The Al Nassr star was the standout performer in a 4-0 victory over Rio Ave in a friendly played at the Algarve Stadium, scoring a hat-trick and delivering post-match comments that have ignited debate in the football world.

After the match — where he scored in the 44th, 63rd, and 68th minutes (the last from the penalty spot) — the 40-year-old Portuguese forward was blunt when asked about the next Ballon d’Or winner: “It’s fictional.” A short but powerful statement that reignited his skepticism toward individual awards.

A Critical View on the Ballon d’Or

The five-time winner of the prestigious award (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017) has expressed similar opinions before. Ahead of the Club World Cup, Cristiano stated that, in his view, the trophy should go to the player who excels and wins the Champions League. “I no longer believe in individual awards because I know what happens behind the scenes,” he said at the time.

When told that three of his compatriots — Nuno Mendes, João Neves, and Vitinha, all from Paris Saint-Germain — were among the nominees, the Portuguese forward downplayed it, reinforcing his belief that the award does not always reflect true sporting merit.

In the same interview, he was asked about the arrival of fellow countryman João Félix to Al Nassr from Chelsea, and he dropped another comment that stirred controversy in Portugal: “For him, it was better to come to Saudi Arabia than to the Portuguese league.”

A Showcase of Goals and Assists in the Algarve

The friendly began with Frenchman Mohamed Simakan opening the scoring for Jorge Jesus’s side. From then on, Cristiano Ronaldo took center stage: he equalized with a precise strike before halftime, extended the lead with another goal in the second half, and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after a foul on João Félix.

Félix, meanwhile, played a key role without scoring, providing two assists — one of them for a Ronaldo goal — and earning the penalty that sealed the 4-0 result. His movement and creativity were crucial in Al Nassr’s dominance over a Rio Ave side that struggled to keep up with the Saudi team’s firepower.

The emphatic win not only showcased the team’s efficiency but also confirmed that, even at 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make a difference — both on the pitch and in front of the microphones.