Ronaldo is considered undeserving of the Ballon d'Or honor in Dubai.

Cristiano Ronaldo has received the Best Middle Eastern Player award at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025 for the third year running, yet this outcome is facing significant criticism from supporters and analysts alike.

Cristiano Ronaldo honored at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo was recognized as the Best Middle Eastern Player at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025, securing this award for the third consecutive year. Up to now, Ronaldo has had an impressive 2025 season with Al-Nassr. Even as he approaches the twilight of his career, the Portuguese superstar continues to perform at a high level and deliver explosive performances with the “Knights of Najd.”

This year, Ronaldo has scored 32 goals for Al-Nassr (the best record among players active in the Middle East) and leads the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League scoring charts. In this individual race, he outperformed strong contenders like Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad), Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli/Al-Sadd), N'Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), and Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli).

Controversy over Ronaldo’s recognition

During the 2024/25 season, the Saudi Pro League saw many top regional stars shine. Karim Benzema and Al Ittihad won the Saudi Pro League title, with the French forward also voted the league’s Best Player. Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez made a significant impact by leading Al Ahli to victory in the Arab Champions League and the AFC Champions League, the AFC Champions League, while also earning the Best Player award due to his consistent performance and major influence in key matches.

Considering both team achievements and individual accolades in the Middle East, Benzema and Mahrez are highly regarded and even surpass Cristiano Ronaldo in several aspects. However, at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025, CR7 was still announced as the Best Middle Eastern Player, which has sparked considerable debate and caused many fans and experts to question the legitimacy of this result.

Following Ronaldo’s official announcement, a wave of controversy erupted on X.

One user posted an AI-generated summary from search results, claiming that Ronaldo’s former agent Jorge Mendes is also one of the co-founders of the Globe Soccer Awards: “I swear on my life, this is not a real award,” the user sarcastically remarked.

Another account commented: “It seems the organizers just made up this award.”

A third person compared: “Best Middle Eastern Player, but no titles like Benzema or Mahrez? I wonder what criteria this award is based on.”

A fourth agreed: “They’re creating a special award just for Ronaldo.”

Some even suggested Ronaldo won because Lionel Messi does not play in the Middle East: “He’s lucky since Messi isn’t playing in the Middle East,” this user noted.

Notably, the Best Middle Eastern Player award was only introduced in 2023, and since its inception, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the sole recipient of this honor.