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Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal are set to face Spain in the UEFA Nations League final on June 7 at Allianz Arena, Germany.
While winning the Nations League final will add to Ronaldo's achievements with his national team, the trophy might mean a bit more individually to some players as it helps their chances of receiving the Ballon d'Or this year.
One of the top names in contention for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who is also a part of the Spanish squad for the Nations League final. The 17-year-old has emerged as one of the most promising and talented youngsters of recent times.
Yamal won the domestic treble with Barcelona this season and has already lifted the UEFA European Football Championship trophy with Spain last year.
Now, Ronaldo has shared his opinion on who should win the Ballon d'Or this year, specifying the criteria he believes should have been achieved in order to receive the annual award.
What did Cristiano Ronaldo say about the Ballon d'Or 2025?
Speaking ahead of Portugal's Nations League final, Ronaldo mentioned (comments via World Soccer Talk) that, in his opinion, the Ballon d'Or recipient should be the one who has bagged the Champions League title.
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"The individual awards have lost some consensus; I can’t say anything about who should win. In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win. But there is no consensus," said the five-time Ballon d'Or win.
Along with Yamal, Ousmane Dembele is also another strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. The Frenchman had a great run in the 2024-25 season, winning the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and the Champions League with PSG.
Ronaldo candidly admitted that he cannot 'single out' one player as there are 'many strong contenders,' while holding to his opinion.
"I can’t single out just one player, but there are many strong contenders: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha. For me, whoever wins the Ballon d’Or must be a player who has won the Champions League. I think this award has lost its value," added the Portuguese icon.
While it appears that Yamal might not be Ronaldo's top choice for the Ballon d'Or this year, it remains to be seen which player receives this annual honor in September.
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