Fans have expressed their outrage on social media after they felt the recently concluded The Best FIFA Awards ‘disrespected’ Cristiano Ronaldo. Some of the top football stars attended the glittery ceremony in Paris on Monday for honouring the best performances of the year. Argentina won the bulk of the male prizes as was to be expected following their outstanding World Cup victory in Qatar last year.
The the best player was undoubtedly Lionel Messi, best goalkeeper was scooped in by Emiliano Martinez, the best coach was Lionel Scaloni, and the best fans were Argentina fans in Qatar. However, viewers of the ceremony believed that a montage that featured footage of Cristiano Ronaldo sitting on the bench humiliated the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Fans allege FIFA of having an agenda against Cristiano Ronaldo
In reality, Cristiano Ronaldo has had a difficult year in 2022, to put it mildly. His second stint at Manchester United came to a terrible end after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, which was followed by mutual contract termination. To make matters worse, the 38-year-old’s hopes of winning his first World Cup with Portugal in what was probably his last ever appearance at the tournament were crushed when Morocco eliminated them in the quarterfinals.
His signing with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr was revealed in early January after weeks of rumours following the tournament in Qatar. Ronaldo surprisingly announced that his time in Europe is now finished during his first news conference in the Middle East as he got set for a brand-new chapter in his already successful career. The ex-Juventus forward has made six appearances for his new team in all competitions so far, recording eight goals and two assists.

However, it was highly anticipated that Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be named in the FIFPro XI for the first time in over 15 years, but the fans were rather fuming on FIFA’s treatment of the legendary player. On social media, fans quickly voiced their displeasure when the football governing body showed a video footage from the festivities in Qatar wherein Ronaldo was captured sitting on the Portugal bench. Here are some of the fan reactions:
Not the first time FIFA disrespected Ronaldo like this by the way pic.twitter.com/Fsl9WXIg15
— Moiz?? (@7777Goatnaldo) February 27, 2023
Fifa disrespect Cristiano Ronaldo every ceremony …I mean at least have some shame and try to hide your agenda against him . Don't make it that obvious pic.twitter.com/TI7BKiXTd6
— P???? (@UrVoice8) February 27, 2023
no way fifa showed cristiano ronaldo sitting on the bench in their video ???? pic.twitter.com/59ygipdhEU
— ٍ (@grizi7i) February 27, 2023
I wouldn't stop saying this, Cristiano Ronaldo's worst enemy is Fifa. He left Europe but they wouldn't stop being obsessed with him. pic.twitter.com/WVBLj3krWg
— Martial??✝️ (@RmaOzil23) February 27, 2023
FIFA is a shameless and disrespectful institution ngl pic.twitter.com/mBwVo9Ryjy
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) February 27, 2023
Fifa and France football disrespect Cristiano Ronaldo every ceremony and they expect us to take these Pr awards seriously ? pic.twitter.com/peJCdemsNO
— . (@Z7pcvxkedd) February 27, 2023
they disrespected Ronaldo again
— U. (@ffsumar_) February 27, 2023
FIFA has always been against Ronaldo and has proven it yet again. Ronaldo was always right about FIFA against him. Absolute Shameless and disrespectful behaviour from FIFA pic.twitter.com/NHokvDU8ZQ
— Moiz?? (@7777Goatnaldo) February 27, 2023
Why would fifa do that when he's not even at the ceremony ?? Just to humiliate him in front of the whole world and to show that we don't like Cristiano Ronaldo, weird weird agenda pic.twitter.com/59TLeUp4u9
— ~ (@mercyl4s) February 27, 2023
Harassed in Europe his entire career by the FIFA mafia, now gone from Europe to another continent and FIFA continues to laugh at Ronaldo.
Yesterday they showed images of Ronaldo sitting on the bench.
How do you explain this gesture made by FIFA?@Cristiano pic.twitter.com/ICX19G6ujw
— ©️®️7️⃣ LEZIONI DI STILE (@DragoSoriano) February 28, 2023
Whether you’re a Ronaldo or Messi fan, you gotta agree that fifa is super biased towards Messi. All the 50-50 decisions have gone in his favour and it’s the other way round for Ronaldo
— Siddarth (@SiddarthNatara2) February 28, 2023