Officially retired since October 2022, after a last adventure in Serie A on the side of Salernitana, Franck Ribéry still follows the news of the Round Ball. Last September, the former French international (42 years old) obtained his UEFA license “A” at the Italian technical center in Coverciano, confirming his desire to start a career as a coach.
So Cristiano Ronaldo's latest statements about the Ballon d'Or have not escaped him. On Saturday, on the eve of the final of the League of Nations between Portugal and Spain, “CR7” spoke on the identity of Rodri's successor, which will be known on September 22. And his words recalled bad memories to “Kaiser Franck”.
“The one who should win the Ballon d'Or is a player who won the Champions Leaguesaid the Portuguese striker (40) at a press conference. Lamine Yamal has great potential. If he continues like that, he will win it in two, three or four years. Him, (Kylian) Mbappé, (Ousmane) Dembélé, Vitinha and other Spanish players who emerge… ”
Franck Ribéry has still not digested
Enough to make the ex-tricolor-the-goman jump who, in 2013, had won everything with Bayern Munich, whose C1, which had not prevented him from finishing third in the vote, then organized by FIFA, behind the winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
“So you have to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d'Or?” »»he reacted, hilarious, on his Instagram account.
A yellow laugh for Franck Ribéry, who has still not digested this verdict. “It was the perfect year. I couldn't do betterhe had entrusted to our colleagues
The team Last March. This Ballon d'Or will forever remain an injustice. I'm still looking for the explanation. I will never understand that we have rejected the closure of the ballot of more than fifteen days … “
“(Lionel) Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have always shown me respect. They knew I was at their table. In all humility, in 2013, I had nothing to envy them ”he added. That year, the selectors and captains were responsible for electing the best player. The ballot mode changed in 2016 when France Football has regained the hand and entrusted this role to journalists.
