Playing football in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo received a bitter ending after two decades

Recently, France Football magazine announced a list of 30 candidates for the 2023 Golden Ball award. Notably, superstar Ronaldo's name is not included in this list.

Sang Ả Rập Xê Út chơi bóng, Ronaldo nhận cái kết đắng sau hai thập kỷ - Ảnh 1. — Ronaldo was not nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or.

This is also the first time since 2004 that the Portuguese striker has not been on the nomination list.

He won the Golden Ball 5 times in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. This achievement is only less than the leader Lionel Messi with 7 times.

Ronaldo has been runner-up six times in the race for the Ballon d'Or award in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2018.

He ranked third in 2019, sixth in 2010, 2021. Ronaldo ranked 20th twice (2005, 2022). In the remaining years, he ranked 12th (2004) and 14th (2006).

In early 2023, Ronaldo left MU to play for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Club. At the national team level, Portugal also stopped at the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Besides Ronaldo, Neymar also did not make the list of 30 candidates for the 2023 Golden Ball award.

Meanwhile, names like Messi, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Rodri are all nominated by France Football magazine.

In this race, Messi is highly appreciated for helping PSG win the Ligue 1 championship.

Notably, the star currently playing for Inter Miami won the 2023 World Cup with the Argentina team, where he won the title of best player.

Messi's toughest rival is Erling Haaland - who scored 52 goals in 53 matches in all competitions, helping Man City win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

List of 30 players nominated for the 2023 Golden Ball

Josko Gvardiol, Andre Onana, Jamal Musiala, Karim Benzema, Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Kevin de Bruyne, Jude Bellingham, Randal Kolo Muani, Bernardo Silva, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Emiliano Martinez, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Nicolo Barella, Martin Odegaard, Ilkay Gundogan, Yassine Bounou, Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Jr, Rodri, Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Robert Lewandowski, Kim Min Jae, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane.

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