Cristiano Ronaldo has accused France Football editor-in-chief, Pascal Ferre, over recent “lies” involving Lionel Messi and the Ballon d’Or.
France Football is the publication that gives out the prestigious individual football award, which Ronaldo has won five times, and Ferre criticised the Manchester United star over the weekend ahead of the 2021 ceremony.
“Ronaldo has only one ambition and that is to retire with more Ballon d’Or [awards] than Messi. I know because he has told me,” he is quoted as saying in Marca.
Ronaldo, who will not attend Monday’s ceremony in Paris, has now responded to Ferre’s claim on social media and he has strongly hit out against the Ballon d’Or boss.
“Today’s outcome explains why Pascal Ferré’s statements last week, when he stated that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Golden Balls than Lionel Messi,” Ronaldo wrote.
“Pascal Ferré lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for. It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d’Or.
“And he lied again today by justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist. I always want to congratulate those who win, within the sportsmanship and fair-play that have guided my career since the beginning, and I do it because I’m never against anyone.
“I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don’t win against anyone. The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team in my country. The biggest ambition of my career is to be a good example for all those who are or want to be professional footballers.
“The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football. I will end by saying that my focus is already on Manchester United’s next game and on everything that, together with my team-mates and our fans, we can still achieve this season. The rest? The rest is just the rest.”
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