Revealed: Why Cristiano Ronaldo did not submit vote for The Best FIFA Men’s Player as Portugal captain

Vinicius Junior was crowned the Best FIFA Men’s Player for 2024 as the Real Madrid star beat strong competition from Manchester City's Rodri, who won this year’s Ballon d’Or. However, the voting records released by FIFA revealed that Ronaldo, usually the designated captain for Portugal, did not cast votes for the award. Instead, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva assumed the responsibility, choosing Rodri, Vinícius, and Erling Haaland as his top three picks.

This change in voting duties raised eyebrows, especially given Ronaldo’s long-standing role as Portugal’s captain. Nonetheless, this is not the first instance where he has refrained from voting, since on the previous couple of occasions, veteran defender Pepe represented Portugal in the voting process.

Ronaldo, who had previously won the award in 2016 and 2017, was notably absent from this year's nominees list and consequently did not receive a single vote, nor was he eligible to cast any. Despite his exclusion, the 39-year-old continues to excel on the pitch, contributing significantly to Al Nassr's cause as his 2024-25 season-tally stands at 16 goals and three assists in 19 appearances across competitions.

With the Saudi Pro League currently on a break, Ronaldo is enjoying a brief period of rest before resuming his duties for Al Nassr. His next match is scheduled for January 9, 2024, against Al-Akhdood, providing him with an opportunity to continue his incredible form and lead his club to further success.