Ribery blasts Ballon d'Or snub

Franck Ribery has claimed he deserved to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo because the Real Madrid forward won nothing in 2013.

20 January 2014, 12:00am
by Staff Reporter

1 min read

Ronaldo beat off competition from Bayern Munich midfielder Ribery and Lionel Messi to be crowned the world's best player last week.

It was reward for 12 months of brilliant individual performances, but an aggrieved Ribery felt the five titles in won with his all-conquering Bayern side should have counted for more.

"I won everything, with the team and individually. Ronaldo won nothing," the France international said in an interview with Munich's TZ newspaper.

"I feel I had earned this award. It's all politics."

Ribery helped Bayern win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2013, while Ronaldo's 66 goals in 56 appearances for Madrid failed to win them a single trophy.

Ribery appeared disheartened by the whole experience.

Asked about next year's award, he said: "The Golden Ball doesn't interest me any more."

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Of coarse Ribery feels robbed for whet he has accomplished with Bayern and what Bayern has accomplished as a team. They demonstrated superiority in all competitions. But Ronaldo put his numbers up high as well and I think the goals he scored in the WC playoffs and put Portugal thru nailed it. I've just read an article by the great Jimmy Greaves who feels cheated to this day in 1963 beaten by Lev Yashin and 2nd went to Gianni Riviera. He believes both of them were backed up by....It's only football.