Cristiano Ronaldo says football’s individual awards are ‘losing credibility’ in the wake of Lionel Messi’s controversial FIFA triumph as Portuguese star says no one can deny his numbers

Cristiano Ronaldo has said that football’s individual awards no longer hold the weight that they once did.

Lionel Messi picked up FIFA’s The Best prize last week and many were surprised that he did so over the Treble-winning Erling Haaland.

Messi also won the Ballon d’Or after his World Cup triumph but FIFA’s prize was awarded over a period that did not include that.

Ronaldo, speaking after winning three prizes at the Globe Soccer Awards, hinted that Messi was not a deserving winner.

‘I think that, in a way, these awards are losing credibility,’ he said. ‘We have to analyse the entire season. It’s not to say that Messi didn’t deserve it, or Haaland or even Mbappe. I simply no longer believe in these awards.

‘And it’s not because I won at Globe Soccer. But there are facts, there are numbers. And the numbers don’t deceive. They can’t take this trophy away from me because it’s a reality. So it makes me even happier because the numbers are facts.’

Ronaldo added he was unlikely to be in the running for the major awards in future as he now plays in Saudi Arabia.

He said: ‘We know how other organisms work. Obviously, I always think about my club and the national team first. The awards come after a good season for the club and the national team. I don’t think about it much, honestly.

‘As you said, well, the 54 goals I scored [in 2023], there may be those who say it’s easier because I’m in Saudi Arabia.

‘But football professionals know that it is difficult to score goals, whether in Saudi Arabia or in Italy, Spain or Portugal. A goal is a goal. In a way, I feel even more proud to have beaten Haaland, Mbappe and [Harry] Kane.’