Cristiano Ronaldo was named the Best Middle East Player of the Year at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, December 27, 2024.

However, his comments after accepting the award have sparked intense debate among football fans on social media.

The Portuguese captain asserted that Vinicius Junior, who won both the Best Player and Best Striker awards on the night, also deserved the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo, during his acceptance speech, further claimed he prefers the Globe Soccer Awards to the Ballon d’Or, describing the former as an "honest institution."

“Vini did a fantastic job, and in my opinion, he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. It was unfair, in my opinion. I’m saying it in front of everybody. This gala always does the right thing, which is why I love Globe Soccer. Continue hosting this gala because it’s an honest award and it’s very good,” he stated.

Ronaldo’s remarks about the Ballon d’Or weren’t the only controversial statements he made on stage. The 2016 European Championship winner also asserted that the Saudi Pro League, where he currently plays, is better than the French Ligue 1, despite being ranked 33rd among the best leagues in world football.

“The Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course. France only has PSG. The rest are finished. This is a fact. I’m not a liar,” Ronaldo continued.

These comments have since divided fans, with some supporting the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, while others accuse him of being bitter.

Read some of the reactions below:

Ronaldo cooked the Ballon d’Or in front of everyone😭😭😭😭

What a beautiful way to end the year. pic.twitter.com/3JI8WUwsB7

— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) December 27, 2024

It’s rare to see someone as accomplished as Ronaldo so incredibly insecure and desperate for public validation.

You literally have nothing to prove, why go out of your way to sound moronic?

I don’t get it. https://t.co/z9JI993UTy

— Neal 🇦🇺 (@NealGardner_) December 27, 2024

This shows how childish Ronaldo is, when things don't go his way he calls it unfair and rigged, there's no way Vini deserved to win the Ballon d'Or ahead of Rodri.

Vini wasn't even Madrid best player last season, Bellingham carried Madrid for more than 8 months, scoring clutch… https://t.co/Qqeu1tPybk pic.twitter.com/XoHuaywYFr

— Tega (@cfctega_) December 27, 2024

Saudi league is a highly paid retirement home for players like Ronaldo who can pretend being relevant. He isn’t & hasn’t been for some time. Playing for Portugal in the European Championship was sad & embarrassing. So many talented players on their bench watching him in decline

— Martyn Warwick Socialist🌹✊Palestine’s a State🇪🇭 (@martynwarwick) December 28, 2024

One of the things I love about Ronaldo is he never bends over for Institutions like France football, UEFA and FIFA he says the things as they are, never showed double standards, no wonder why every single institution hates him and robbed him so many times. https://t.co/LicK6PY8cO

— . (@ascii__0) December 27, 2024

In the future, Ronaldo's son will explain his father's actions on the day Messi achieved World Cup victory. Honestly, things haven't been the same for him since that moment.

— Nnámdí (@__Nnamdi_) December 28, 2024

The greatest of all time Ronaldo is telling you Vinicius deserves it but “RascalRodri” on Twitter will tell you the awards was fair https://t.co/pLObKoeaVP

— ͏͏͏𝐉𝐚𝐲 ⌖ (@cagiago_) December 27, 2024