Why was Cristiano Ronaldo not allowed to vote in FIFA The Best awards? Report reveals reason for his absence

Cristiano Ronaldo was excluded from voting for any candidates in this year's FIFA The Best awards despite being captain of the Portuguese national team. The awards are usually voted for by the captains of national teams as well as national team coaches every year.

BeIn Sports reports that Bernardo Silva was responsible for casting the votes for the award as captain of the Portuguese national team. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, did not participate in the voting as a result of his suspension following a red card last month.

Ronaldo was shown his marching orders in the second half as Portugal lost 2-0 against the Republic of Ireland in their FIFA World Cup qualifier in November. The 40-year-old received an automatic pre-match suspension, ensuring that he did not play against Armenia in the final qualifier, with his side winning 9-1.

Cristiano Ronaldo escaped a three-game ban for violent conduct, with the final two games of his sentence suspended until he repeats the offence. The Al-Nassr man saw his punishment extend into the voting for The Best FIFA Awards, as Bernardo Silva had the armband in the most recent Portugal game.

The Manchester City man voted for his compatriot and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Vitinha as the best player on the planet for 2025. He voted another Portugal and PSG star, Nuno Mendes, in second place, and had eventual winner Ousmane Dembele as the third-best player in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken against individual awards in recent years, increasingly abstaining from them. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United man's choices in the polls for the awards would have been interesting, knowing his stance.

Former Juventus man points out distinction that makes Cristiano Ronaldo the best ever

Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has pointed out a singular quality that separates Cristiano Ronaldo from Lionel Messi. The Portuguese great was on the books of the Bianconeri between 2018 and 2021 after joining the club from Real Madrid.

Marchisio spoke about Ronaldo, pointing out to La Gazzetta dello Sport the reason why he believes him to be the ultimate footballer. He advised young players to look up to the Portugal international, citing his work ethic as a key factor.

"Follow the example of Cristiano Ronaldo. If you are looking for a role model to become a great champion, choose his and not Messi's. Why? Cristiano was already a star, but he had to build himself up even more. He worked extremely hard to get to where he is. The other, Messi, is a talent blessed by God, who almost didn't need to train", he said (via SI.com).

Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have dominated GOAT debates since their emergence as superstars in the 2000s. They have won a combined 13 Ballon d'Ors between them, and are regarded as the greatest players of their generation.