Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said "trophies" should determine who wins the Ballon d'Or.
"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," the 40-year-old forward told reporters.
First awarded in 1956 by the French magazine France Football, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season.
Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season's gong.
Spain starlet Lamine Yamal's superb display in Thursday's 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France, however, had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d'Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history.
Spain's Lamine Yamal has been in terrific formReuters / Annegret Hilse
France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying: "Considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him."
At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele.
"Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we're talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I'm voting for Dembele."
France's Ousmane Dembele is one of the favourites for the Ballon d'OrReuters / Annegret Hilse
Ronaldo said he "cannot tell you who deserves it" this season.
Ronaldo's five wins are bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times.
The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo's first win in 2008 to his last in 2017.
The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
GateWaye
94
"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," Franck Ribery Say Hey π from 2013 lol π
Shmonny
80
Someone should tell him to go bring back the 2013 award then we will listen to him
Spheg
38
once Ronaldo retires, we gonna have bigger problems. he's been such a good player, made a name n created legacy for himself. bt he's very immature with words, it is really sad. this is not bad bt the worst one is saying French ligue 1 is not better than Saudi league. now a player from ligue 1 should win a ballon'dor. kinda contradicting himself, aii the legend not only losing his touch bt also his mind.
Nam_So
26
It's crazy how Cristiano Ronaldo says " you need to win the champions league to be a Ballon D'or winner" but he's also the only player in football history to win Ballon D'or without a single trophy. π Wait till this new prodigy future GOAT sends you to retirement
Shmonny
22
The kid didn't allowed the whole football world knew about this debate before he muted the starters of it.
bamadiloty
20
Who are you to decide that
Megamiracle
20
"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," Franck Ribery Say Hey π from 2013 lol π
Iniesta says hi Lewandowski says hi van Dijk says hi
AboningChrysantus
18
if that's your own idea of who should win the balloon d'or, then I understand why you always think it's unfair
tihklpruz
16
look at this old fool you are going to pay for it on Sunday
GaddafiJamal
13
"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," Franck Ribery Say Hey π from 2013 lol π
Exactly, Heβs The Only Player In Ballon DβOr History To Win The Award While Going Trophyless π€£π€£
Sebabdem
13
"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," Franck Ribery Say Hey π from 2013 lol π
2013 Ribery- 23 Goals & 20 Assists. Ronaldo -69 Goals & 15 assists. 2025 Lamine Yamal-18 goals& 21 assists Dembele- 33 goals &13 assists
fidimopsyz
11
Someone should tell him to go bring back the 2013 award then we will listen to him
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Van Djik, Haaland, Lewandowski. Someone should tell him to Messy
Dibbkmosu
9
Someone should tell him to go bring back the 2013 award then we will listen to him
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van djik, Haaland, Lewandowski, sneidjer, neymar and many more robbed by fifa boy
Siyaceptyz
8
Someone should tell him to go bring back the 2013 award then we will listen to him
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tell messi also to bring 2010 ballon d'or to sneider