Real Madrid legend Marcelo has surprisingly named Cristiano Ronaldo as his choice for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award, despite the Portuguese star not being in contention for football's most prestigious individual honor.
The Brazilian left-back made his comments following a charity match between Real Madrid legends and Borussia Dortmund legends on Saturday, which ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. When asked about who should win the upcoming Ballon d'Or, Marcelo responded without hesitation: "Who should win the Ballon d'Or? Cristiano Ronaldo."
Ronaldo's Recent Achievements
Ronaldo has continued to demonstrate his goal-scoring prowess even at 40 years of age. The forward netted 25 goals last season to claim the Saudi Pro League top scorer award for the second consecutive year. He has also been instrumental in Portugal's Nations League campaign, guiding his national team to the final where they will face Spain.
Despite these accomplishments, Ronaldo is not among the nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or, a fact that Marcelo is likely aware of given their close relationship during their time together at Real Madrid.
Current Ballon d'Or Contenders
The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or features several high-profile candidates, including Barcelona's young sensation Lamine Yamal, Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
Interestingly, Ronaldo himself recently weighed in on the Ballon d'Or debate, suggesting that the award "should be given to a player from the team who won the Champions League." This statement aligns with the traditional pattern of Ballon d'Or winners often coming from Champions League-winning squads.
The charity match where Marcelo made these comments featured goals from Baptista, Kroos, and Raul for the Real Madrid legends team, showcasing the enduring talent of these former stars.
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