CRISTIANO RONALDO did NOT vote in the Fifa Best Awards, despite international captains being entitled to do so.
The 38-year-old skippered Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, and there has been no announcement since to suggest that he has been stripped of the armband.
Fernando Santos was axed as Portugal boss shortly after their elimination, with Roberto Martinez being appointed in his place.
Rather than Ronaldo, centre-back Pepe voted as Portugal's captain.
The former Real Madrid hardman, 40, voted for PSG star Kylian Mbappe as men's player of the year.
And he didn't even select old rival Lionel Messi in his top three - instead going for former Madrid team-mates Luka Modric and Karim Benzema in second and third respectively.
Upon his appointment, Martinez suggested that Ronaldo would be part of his plans moving forward - despite his predecessor Santos having dropped the Al-Nassr forward during the World Cup.
He said: "I hope we can sit down with him and create the best team. It's a day of great satisfaction, but tomorrow we'll get down to business.
"We're going to start a footballing process to try to get to know all the players that could make it to the national team.
"We're going to give all the players an opportunity and respect all those who are already in the national team. Cristiano is one of them.
"I'm delighted to be able to have them by my side. It's a process that we have to face naturally, with responsibility, and we're going to make important decisions for the team."
Despite being snubbed by Pepe, Messi romped to his second "The Best" award triumph - equalling Ronaldo's tally.
The 35-year-old was also named in the FIFPRO World XI, and attended the plush bash in Paris alongside wife Antonela and PSG team-mate Mbappe.
Upon accepting his latest gong, Messi said: "It is an amazing pleasure to be here, alongside Benzema and Mbappe, who had a wonderful year.
"It was an amazing year and I achieved a dream that I had been hoping for for so long.
"I want to pay tribute to all of my team-mates and my coach, without them I wouldn't be here."
Holiness21
608
RONALDO IS THE ONLY GOAT π THAT I KNOW AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE HELP OF FIFA TO BE THE BEST....HE PROVED IT
PHP88
430
Why whenever sth is won by Messi it becomes rigged, corrupt, useless, low quality and many more but when other players wins it , it becomes the best again. What type of hate is that? When Messi won ballon dβor and Lewy fifa the best, dβor was worthless and fifa the best was better. Then benzene won dβor, and Messi was not part of the list, nobody complained and it was still highest quality. Now that he is at the edge of winning both, fifa the best becomes useless and corrupt and dβor is rigged. Pure hate from Senseless fan base!
AsadNoori
429
Earned, Not Given.
Sequoia
19
RONALDO IS THE ONLY GOAT π THAT I KNOW AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE HELP OF FIFA TO BE THE BEST....HE PROVED IT
keep crying ππππππ
kenbceprsy
18
RONALDO IS THE ONLY GOAT π THAT I KNOW AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE HELP OF FIFA TO BE THE BEST....HE PROVED IT
Ronaldo the best π π€£π€£π€£ frustrated fans but my question is why will his former teammates things Messi is better, modric said it ,kroos , Alanson, Ramos,di maria , and you think FIFA are favoring you are angry π‘ that Ronaldo can never even be better than Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, MARADONA,Pele ,cruf don't even call messi.how can you compare a complete finisher to a complete player don't be delusional bro π π€£π€£
fortunate0001
15
Foolish comment
Very foolish comment indeed. Every time Messi wins, itβs help everytime Ronaldo wins its hard work. Silly people who hates to see a greatness greater than their own.
tababdimsy
12
RONALDO IS THE ONLY GOAT π THAT I KNOW AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE HELP OF FIFA TO BE THE BEST....HE PROVED IT
obviously many Rinaldo fans don't love Messi but he keep proving them wrong which shows how great he is and that attitude of theirs has made us to understand nature cannot be cheated
Casey21
12
RONALDO IS THE ONLY GOAT π THAT I KNOW AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE HELP OF FIFA TO BE THE BEST....HE PROVED IT
Foolish comment
Trippyfc
8
RONALDO IS THE ONLY GOAT π THAT I KNOW AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE HELP OF FIFA TO BE THE BEST....HE PROVED IT
let's say we remove the ballond'or cause it's rigged, why does messi have more Golden boots than Ronaldo or did fifa help rig that too?