Cristiano Ronaldo, the renowned Portuguese footballer, recently expressed his feelings about not being included in the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) list of the top 10 players for 2023.
Known for his remarkable achievements in the sport, Ronaldo's exclusion from the list came as a surprise to many.
A Display of Humor and Sarcasm
Ronaldo, currently playing for Al-Nassr, took a humorous and sarcastic approach in responding to his omission. Despite his impressive record of 53 goals and 15 assists in 58 appearances across various competitions in 2023, he was not featured in the prestigious ranking.
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11:13 - 29.12.2023
Manchester City's Haaland wins award that Cristiano Ronaldo has never won
Erling Haaland has capped off a wonderful 2023 with Manchester City by winning a prestigious award.
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10:00 - 28.12.2023
Only two players in history — Cristiano Ronaldo reveals 2 footballers on his level in GOAT debate
Portugal captain and Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo revealed the only players he believes should be alongside him in the GOAT debate.
Ronaldo's response came in the form of emojis on an Instagram post by the Portuguese news outlet A Bola, which shared the IFFHS list. His use of laughing emojis underlined his lighthearted take on the situation.
According to Football on TNT Sports on X, "Cristiano Ronaldo's response to not being ranked in the top 10 players in the world this year by IFFHS." The Portuguese replied to the post with a smiley emoji.
The Top 10 List
The IFFHS top 10 list was led by Erling Haaland of Manchester City, followed by Kylian Mbappe (PSG) and Lionel Messi, who also played part of 2023 with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to MLS.
Other players on the list included Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Harry Kane, Vinicius Junior, and Lautaro Martinez.
![Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo || Imago](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/30122023/d6c5e509-699c-46e4-bc9a-a64a23a58e89.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
Ronaldo, despite his top-scoring status and key role in Portugal’s successful Euro 2024 qualification campaign, was notably absent from this list, which has sparked discussions among football fans and experts alike.
Global Impact and Fan Reactions
The news of Ronaldo's exclusion and his subsequent reaction has reverberated across the global football community. Fans and pundits have debated the criteria used by IFFHS, particularly given Ronaldo's extraordinary achievements over the past year.
His scoring feats and assist record testify to his enduring quality and skill on the field. The conversation has extended to social media, where Ronaldo's supporters have rallied behind him, echoing their surprise and backing the player's lighthearted approach to the snub.
This incident underscores Ronaldo's impact on the pitch and his significant influence on it, as he continues to engage and inspire a global audience.