Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time in his career (Getty)
Cristiano Ronaldo has liked a post on Instagram which criticised Lionel Messi after his Ballon d’Or victory on Monday evening.
Messi has now won the award for a record eighth time in his career after he played an instrumental role in Argentina’s World Cup success in Qatar in December.
The 36-year-old’s latest Ballon d’Or victory is even more remarkable given that he failed to make the shortlist for last year’s award and is now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero criticised the decision to award the Ballon d’Or to Messi as he wrote in a post on Instagram: ‘Hello friends, what we knew has happened, they were going to give another Ballon d’Or to Messi.
‘He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking like retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup, he won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties. The World Cup was 10 months ago, we’re in November.
‘Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors well, he should’ve have five, he has the Ballon d’Ors of Iniesta/Xavi, Lewandowski who won 6 trophies in one season and Haaland who was the top scorer of everything.’
Cristiano Ronaldo liked an Instagram post which criticised Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or win (Instagram)
Ronaldo liked Roncero’s post and even replied with four laughing emojis, suggesting that he also disagrees with Messi’s latest award.
The former Manchester United forward, who now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has won the Ballon d’Or five times during his career.
Messi, meanwhile, humbly dismissed suggestions that he is now the greatest player of all time after winning his eighth Ballon d’Or.
‘I don’t know if I’m the best,’ Messi said after the ceremony in Paris.
‘I don’t ask myself the question and it doesn’t interest me.
‘The fact that they say that I am one of the best is already an honour.’
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Very salty from Ronaldo.
