Ronaldo Has Missed An Opportunity At The 2020 Ballon d'Or; It May Become His Career's Biggest Regret

It is no longer news that the prestigious Ballon Dor will not be awarded this year, 2020, as per the decision of France Football, owing to the disruptions caused by the corona virus pandemic. This move on the part of France Football has stirred quite some controversies. The soccer organization cited lack of sufficient fair conditions” across the sport as the reason for their decision.

The Ballon Dor is seen as the most prestigious award that can ever be conferred on a footballer, surpassing even the FIFA Best Player Of The Year Award in these terms. This is the reason for the glorification of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While Messi is a record Ballon Dor holder in all soccer history, Ronaldo is a record holder for European football.

The expectations of fans as far as the Ballon for is concerned will hang yet till the much anticipated 2021 season, when the award will make a return.

And what about the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry? How will it be affected by this situation? Well, if there is any player that will lose sorely from France Football's decision it is the Portuguese international, Cristiano Ronaldo, if you count out Robert Lewandowski.

Ronaldo is currently at his fifth Ballon Dor, just one more to equal Messi's count. Messi sits the King with six unprecedented wins. The truth then becomes apparent- Ronaldo will be in waiting till almost two years to prove he is better or at least as good as his chief rival, Messi. What does this all mean for Ronaldo and his career? Let's find out.

Ronaldo blazed to fame after he began a stinct with EpL club Manchester United in 2007. You could spot him out of the others easily because of his pace, dribbling abilities, and goalscoring. He helped the club secure various titles including a UCL title which may have helped the Portuguese get the first Ballon Dor of his career.

Ronaldo then moved to real Madrid. During his time with Madrid, he got his hands on several La  Liga titles and an unprecedented 3 consecutive Champions League title,under the master manager Zidane. Ronaldo departed Madrid for Serie a club Juventus in 2018.

With Juventus Ronaldo has won titles including the 2019 Serie a title. He seems to be doing well in his current club.

There is a reason the Messi- Ronaldo is the most talked about rivalry in the hisfootballfootball, or should I say sports? If nothing else at least their dominating the Ballon Dor award Mich of the past decade is proof to how earthshaking this rivalry is. Messi won a record breaking 4 Ballon D'ors from 2009 -2012. Ronaldo snatched up four more during the same decade, making it a combined eleven Ballon D'ors between the two stars. This hair-raising fact might want you want to disdain Pele and Maradona.

The Messi-Ronaldo era was the era of recordbreaking and record setting. Countless are the records that these monstrous two broke, set or equaled during the peak of their days.

It might be right to say that Ronaldo wouldn't had been Ronaldo if not for Messi and Messi would have been messi if not for Ronaldo. I believe Messi helped bring out the fire and grit in Ronaldo. At least Messi's incredible Ballon Dor wins early last decade is a good example. More so the struggle between the two for who would be the king of La Liga also played it part. Imagine what Ronaldo would be if Messi just retired ( assuming he retires before Ronaldo) and vice versa.

Dreary? That's right. What can be more dreary than being on the edge of letting slip an opportunity to establish yourself as one o the best or even the best? It already known that Ronaldo's sixth Ballon Dor with remain out of reach for at least a year now. And worst the Serie a title may slip away too. Not to talk of the European/Serie a golden boot. But hold on. Lewandoski may be the worst hit in this aspect.

It is already noted that Ronaldo is out of luck this season as far as the Ballon Dor is concerned. This situation is complicated by so many factors. This factors are the most likely ones that will make the Ballon Dor opportunity that has slipped Ronaldo perhaps the greatest regret of his career.

Age is never on anyone's side. This painful truth is already slowly dawning on the Portuguese star. Why will age worsen Ronaldo's situation? Because his best days may be behind him. 

Even if he is fit enough to play till next year, ( and somehow it seems he will considering his fitness condition), he may not be able to put up a performance that will qualify him for his sixth Ballon Dor and make him equal to Messi I'm terms of the award.

But we are not completely overlooking the possibility of Ronaldo surpassing all his previous performances and get honored a sixth Ballon Dor prestige, but it is highly unlikely.

Ronaldo has been battling a chronic knee condition, dealing with tendinosis. It is a complicated medical condition in which the the tendon swells. It is quite debilitating. Health experts has said that the condition is manageable, and the degeneration can be slowed. But is could be inflamed and cause some serious disaster. This was what put Ronaldo out of action in Euro 2016, during the final against France. There is hugely frightening possibility that the condition will put Ronaldo out of action completely, but that is only if it not properly managed.

Ronaldo and Messi may finally be giving way to other talents, young, and not afraid to dominate. It will difficult to obscure burning like Mbappe and Haaland, and what more with the two best fading out of the scene. This will make the competitive space even tighter for Ronaldo. Soccer pundits are already predicting that Mbappe will land his firstcBallon Dor in 2021. Haaland is also not left out. Rashford. Tammy Abraham, and several others. This greatly tampers with Ronaldo's Phoenix-like comeback which his fans are no doubt anticipating. But then, anything is possible in the world of soccer, so Ronaldo might still be capable of the impossible. Look out fans!