Cristiano Ronaldo: Ballon d’Or success is not the most important thing to me
Cristiano Ronaldo insists team success with Juventus is more important than winning another Ballon d’Or award.
The 34-year-old has scooped world football’s most prestigious prize five times since 2008 and is one of the favourites to win it once again this year after being named on the 30-man shortlist.
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- Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or award a joint-record five times along with Lionel Messi.
- Both players have been named in this year’s 30-man shortlist.
- Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus last season and scored 33 goals in 52 games across all competitions.
- He’s started this season with five goals in nine games but isn’t focusing on individual honours.
- Ronaldo and Messi have been named alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Eden Hazard on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.
However, the Portugal international is not letting thoughts of personal glory get in the way of Juventus’ pursuit of more silverware this season, including a first Champions League title since 1996.
“We want to win Serie A, we want to win the Cup, the Champions League,” Ronaldo said.
“Juventus should think big. We are going to try to win all the trophies. We know it will be difficult, especially the league and the Champions League, but I think it is possible. Everything is possible.
“In terms of individual [honours], I have nothing to say as this is individual. It is not the most important thing,” Ronaldo added.
“The most important is the collective awards. If you win the collective awards, you have more chance to win the individual awards… The Ballon d’Or is for me in second place.”
Ronaldo pushes aside retirement talk
Ronaldo recently admitted that thoughts of his post-football career had crossed his mind, as can often be the case for many players advancing into their mid-30s.
However, the former Real Madrid man has now clarified his intentions and insists he’s not planning on calling it a day any time soon, still confident in the belief his performances show his levels haven’t dropped.
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“Age is just a number. It does not mean that at 34, 35, 36, you are at the end of your career,” Ronaldo said ahead of Juve’s Champions League meeting with Lokomotiv Moscow.
“I can show that with my performances, how I play, the way I play, the way I still feel good, sharp, thinking about the game, more mature.
“This makes the difference.”
