Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo likes and comments on a post mocking Lionel Messi’s win

Lionel Messi's latest Ballon d'Or triumph has taken a very interesting twist after Cristiano Ronaldo liked and commented on an Instagram post that appeared to mock the Argentine.

Inter Miami co-owner, David Beckham presented Messi with the eighth gong of his career during the 2023 ceremony in Paris on October 30.

Messi fended off competition from Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, who finished second and third, respectively. The record-extending win takes him three titles clear of Ronaldo, whose last win was in 2017.

The Argentine's win was a bit controversial considering that Haaland starred in a Manchester City team that won the treble. The Norwegian had 56 goals, for which he got the Gerd Muller Trophy at the ceremony.

Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or analysed

A journalist, Tomas Roncero of Diario AS, took to social media to analyse Messi's success for a record-extending eighth time.

"Hello friends, what we knew has happened: they were going to give another Ballon d’Or to Messi. He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup; he won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties," he said, as translated by All About Argentina.
Ronceiro then questioned Messi's other Ballon d'Ors, including the times he finished ahead of his former Barcelona teammates, Xavi Hernandez and Andreas Iniesta.

"Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors. Well, he should have five; he has the Ballon d’Ors of Iniesta and Xavi. Lewandowski, who won six trophies in one season and Haaland, who was the top scorer of everything."

A check by Sports Brief shows that Ronaldo liked the video shared on AS Television's Instagram page before adding a couple of laughing emojis.

Now at Al-Nassr, the Portuguese icon did not make it to the final nominee shortlist after a season that saw his Man United contract terminated.