Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player to score 1000 goals in his professional career. This extraordinary achievement has ignited a heated debate about whether or not he deserves to be awarded the Ballon d’Or.

It is undeniable that Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time. His goalscoring record is the clearest testament to his talent and incredible dedication to the beautiful game.

However, the Ballon d’Or is not just an award for the player who scores the most goals. It also honors the best player in a specific year, based on criteria such as individual performance, contribution to the team and impact on the world of football.

In 2023, Ronaldo had a successful season with Manchester United, scoring consistently and playing a major role in helping the team finish third in the Premier League. However, his performance at the international level was less impressive as Portugal was eliminated early from EURO 2023.

Compared to other potential Ballon d’Or candidates, Ronaldo may be underestimated in some aspects. For example, Robert Lewandowski had an explosive season with Bayern Munich, breaking the Bundesliga’s all-time goalscoring record. Karim Benzema was also a key factor in Real Madrid’s Champions League victory.

However, Ronaldo still possesses unique strengths that no one can deny. He is a match-winning player, always plays with the highest spirit and is an inspiration to his teammates.

Whether or not Ronaldo deserves the Ballon d’Or depends on the individual’s perspective and evaluation criteria. However, there is no denying that he is one of the greatest players of all time and has achieved extraordinary things in his career.