Livid Cristiano Ronaldo said he would boycott Ballon dOr over Lionel Messi
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A livid Cristiano Ronaldo once said that he would boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony if he lost out on the award to Lionel Messi.
The record-breaking pair have won 11 awards between them, with Messi's haul of six trophies the most of any player in football history.
The Paris Saint-Germain playmaker is the favourite to pick up the gong on Monday night when the 2021 edition is presented in Paris, with Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski his closest challenger.
The 2020 ceremony for the Ballon d'Or was cancelled due to Covid, with Lewandowski the favourite for last year's award after being named UEFA and FIFA player of the year.
In his 2015 documentary film, Ronaldo discussed the Ballon d'Or, which he has won five times during his career.
“It’s a card inside an envelope that can change so much," explained the Portugal striker.
Who should win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award? Let us know in the comments section below.
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“To see Messi win four in a row was difficult for me. After he won the second and third I thought to myself: ‘I’m not coming here again.’”
The conversation came ahead of the 2014 edition of the awards, when Ronaldo picked up his third title ahead of Messi and Manuel Neuer.
Messi would go on to win a year later to claim his fifth title.
Although Messi holds the record for the most wins, Ronaldo is the player with the most Ballon d'Or nominations, having been nominated for the award 17 times in his career.
He is again nominated for the award this year, but it is Messi and Lewandowski that are the favourites for France Football's annual honour.
The trophy will be presented in Paris on Monday night, with 14 Premier League players nominated for the award, including five from Chelsea alone.
Four members of England's Euros squad are up for the award, with Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling on the shortlist.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Lionel Messi
- PSG FC
- Manchester United FC
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