Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals His Top Ballon d’Or Picks – Says Yamal Isn’t Ready Yet
Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of football’s all-time greats, has weighed in on the debate surrounding this year’s award. With the 2025 Ballon d’Or set to be presented on September 22 in Paris, attention is turning to who deserves the sport’s top individual honor.
Despite Lamine Yamal’s rise to stardom with Barcelona and Spain, Ronaldo believes the 17-year-old isn’t ready for such recognition. Speaking ahead of facing Yamal in the UEFA Nations League final, the 40-year-old praised the teenager’s talent but warned against putting too much pressure on him.
“He’s doing very well,” Ronaldo said, via Football Espana. “But let him grow. Don’t overwhelm him with expectations. He has a lot of talent, but he needs time.”
When asked whether Yamal should win the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo clarified that the award should go to players who make a big impact in the Champions League. This year, that would be stars from Paris Saint-Germain, who dominated Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.
Ronaldo named Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha as his top choices for the Ballon d’Or, highlighting their crucial roles in PSG’s historic European victory.
He also expressed some skepticism about individual awards overall: “There’s not much agreement on who deserves it. I’ve seen what happens behind the scenes. Individual awards don’t always reflect what happens on the pitch.”
While Ronaldo acknowledged that players like Yamal could win in the future, he believes Champions League winners are the most deserving.