Vincent Garcia, the Ballon d’Or chief, has disclosed that Cristiano Ronaldo now abstains from voting.
Garcia also seemed to suggest that Ronaldo is among those “very upset” with award rulings.
The Portuguese superstar has won the award five times in the past, only second to Lionel Messi who has eight.
Ronaldo has also not been named the best footballer on the planet since 2017.
After Messi’s latest win in 2023, Ronaldo liked an Instagram post that claimed Messi had won three Ballons d’Or too many.
This year, neither Messi nor Ronaldo have made the 30-man shortlist, the first time that has happened in 21 years.
Garcia told The Times: “Winners have the right to come back to all future ceremonies but they don’t all come, some are very upset with us.
“I don’t know for certain Cristiano is, I don’t talk to him directly, but I know for example that former winners vote for the Kopa Trophy – for the best young player – and Cristiano didn’t vote last year and he didn’t vote this year either.”
