Former France winger Franck Ribery has publicly questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's recent comments about Ballon d'Or selection criteria, in what appears to be lingering frustration over his own experience with the prestigious award in 2013.

Ribery took to social media on Saturday with a pointed response to Ronaldo's recent statements about what should determine the winner of football's most coveted individual prize.

Ronaldo's Champions League Criteria

Speaking to reporters, Ronaldo suggested that Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele deserves this year's Ballon d'Or after winning the Champions League with the French club.

"The individual awards have lost some consensus; I can't say anything about who should win. In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win," Ronaldo stated.

This comment appears to have struck a nerve with Ribery, who responded on social media with the question: "So you NEED to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d'Or?"

Ribery's 2013 Disappointment

Ribery's reaction stems from his experience in the 2012-13 season when he was instrumental in Bayern Munich's treble-winning campaign, including the Champions League trophy. Despite this remarkable achievement, Ribery finished third in the 2013 Ballon d'Or rankings behind Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The timing of Ribery's response suggests he sees inconsistency in Ronaldo's criteria, given that Ribery himself won the Champions League in 2013 but was still overlooked for the individual honor.

This exchange highlights the ongoing debates about what should determine football's greatest individual award, with team achievements, individual statistics, and overall impact all factoring into the complex decision-making process.

The Ballon d'Or has often been a source of controversy in football circles, with many players and fans questioning the criteria and voting process that determines the winner each year.

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