The 10th edition of The Best FIFA Awards, held in Doha, Qatar, saw France and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Ousmane Dembélé named The Best Men’s Player. The winner was partly decided by national team captains, but not Cristiano Ronaldo.
So, why was the Al-Nassr star excluded from voting in this year’s The Best FIFA Awards?
Portugal Ignored Cristiano Ronaldo for the Best FIFA Awards Voting
According to beIN SPORTS, Ronaldo was not eligible to vote in The Best FIFA Awards owing to his sending off in his most recent game for Portugal. He was replaced by Bernardo Silva, who captained Portugal in a 9-1 win over Armenia in November, by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Acting as a stand-in for Ronaldo, Silva picked Portugal and PSG midfielder Vitinha as his top choice. He also named Portugal and PSG defender Nuno Mendes as the second-best player, while selecting Dembele as his third pick.
All of Dembele, Vitinha, and Mendes were crucial to PSG’s historic 2024-25 season. The trio helped Luis Enrique’s side notch their first-ever quadruple, which included the Parisians’ maiden UEFA Champions League triumph.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo served his red card suspension, received in a 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland last month, in Portugal’s victory against Armenia. After escaping a three-match ban for violent conduct, he is eligible to feature in Portugal’s first 2026 FIFA World Cup match.
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Roberto Martinez Reveals Why Ronaldo Still Plays for Portugal
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has shed light on why Ronaldo is still deemed a vital starter for his national team. The former Belgium boss also revealed how the veteran plays in a different manner at the age of 40.
“Cristiano Ronaldo does not play for Portugal because of what he has done in the past, but because of the importance he has right now. We all know what he’s done in his career,” the Spanish tactician said in an interview with Canal 11 (via OneFootball).
Martinez, who was appointed as Portugal’s head coach in January 2023, added that the ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United star has changed his game in the past few years.
“Now, he’s a very different player who uses his experience intelligently, in his movements, in his finishing ability. He has scored 25 goals in his last 30 games for the Seleção,” Martinez concluded.
Ronaldo, who is enjoying a great 2025-26 season at Al-Nassr, has established himself as a reliable goalscorer over the past two decades. He has scored 143 goals in 226 appearances for Portugal and will be hoping to be in fine rhythm in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
