Picture Credit: Twitter
Star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has put out an elaborate statement on social media in which he could be seen criticising France Football editor-in-chief Pascal Ferre. Ronaldo said that Ferre's claim that the Portuguese had told him that he wished to retire with more Ballon d’Or awards than the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was completely false and was a "lie."
He alleged that Ferre used his name to promote himself and the organisation he works for and termed his behaviour "unacceptable." He added that all his focus at this stage was only on Manchester United's next match nothing else and he wins for himself and his team and not against anyone.
Notably, Ferre had stated that Ronaldo had told him how he wants to retire with more Ballon d'Or than Messi.
"Ronaldo has only one ambition, and that is to retire with more Ballons d’Or than Messi…. and I know that because he has told me," Ferre was quoted as saying.
This is what Ronaldo wrote in his recent social media post.
"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. Pascal Ferré lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for," Ronaldo wrote.
"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, 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," he added.
Check out the post here:
"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," he stated.
"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 teammates and our fans, we can still achieve this season. The rest? The rest is just the rest,” he concluded.
With Messi winning the Ballon d'Or on Monday, he has now extended his record to seven trophies while Ronaldo has five to his name.