Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or rival accused of ‘hate watch fail' during Nations League final as Portugal beat Spain
FRANCK RIBERY felt the wrath of Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo fans at the Nations League final after his recent comments about the Ballon d'Or.
The Frenchman hit out at
Advertisement
4
Franck Ribery was trolled by Portugal fans following his latest spat against Cristiano Ronaldo
Credit: Twitter
4
Ribery was accused of a 'failed hate watch'
Credit: Twitter
4
He was jeered by fans as he watched Ronaldo and Co win the Nations League
Credit: Twitter
4
Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal lifted the Nations League for the second time
Credit: Getty
The
"In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win.
"But there is no consensus. I don't believe much in individual awards because I know what goes on behind the scenes.
"Lamine [Yamal] could win, like [Ousmane] Dembele or Vitinha, other emerging players… but individual awards are irrelevant."
Advertisement
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Following those comments,
He said on an Instagram story: "So you NEED to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d'Or?" He accompanied the message with a trio of laughing emojis.
The dig came in reference to the 2013 Ballon d'Or rankings.
Ribery ranked third that year behind Ronaldo - who scored 66 goals in 56 games - and Lionel Messi despite winning five trophies, including the Champions League, with
Advertisement
Most read in Football
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
The 42-year-old called the decision "unfair" in 2022 as he declared he should have won the gong in 2013.
However, Ribery's online row spilled over into real life as he was greeted by jeers from trolling Ronaldo and
ITV commentator stunned by Cristiano Ronaldo banner at Nations League final
Ribery was in attendance at the Allianz Arena for the final as Portugal lifted the trophy for a second time by beating
Advertisement
Ronaldo also scored his nations equaliser to make it 2-2 in regulation time, which had also come after his winner in the semi-finals against
The winning crowd made their feelings towards Ribery known as a video went viral showing the former winger in a heated exchange with some fans.
He was eventually forced to retreat inside his hospitality box.
Fans also ripped in Ribery online as they accused him of having a "live hate watch fail."
Advertisement
One user said: "A failed live hate watch must really hurt lol."
A second said: "Failed hate watch x100."
Another said: "Ribery failed hate watch."
A fourth added: "I know a failed hate watch when I see one."
Advertisement
The latest edition of the Ballon d'Or is set to have a surprise new winner, with the likes of
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Rayan Cherki signs for Manchester City on five-year deal
Manchester City have completed the signing of France midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon for an initial fee of 36million euros (£30.5m). The 21-year-old moves after an impressive season with Lyon in which he scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists in 40 appearances. He also made an eye-catching debut for France last week when he came off the bench and scored in a 5-4 Nations League loss to Spain. Cherki has put pen to paper on a five-year deal which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. We're delighted to announce the signing of Rayan Cherki ✍️🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 10, 2025 He said: 'This is a dream for me. Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special. 'I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep (Guardiola) and his backroom staff. 'Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace. 'I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future. I can't wait to show City fans what I can do.' His arrival comes on the same day City completed a deal for Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and follows the £31.3million capture of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves on Monday. Rayan Ait-Nouri, right, was signed from Wolves on Monday (Martin Rickett/PA) All three deals have been completed in time for the players to be registered for the group stages of the Club World Cup this month. Director of football Hugo Viana said: 'We're very happy to have Rayan at City. We want to bring top talent to the club, and he falls into that category. 'He's a player our scouts have watched for a long time, and we have all been impressed with his skill and creativity. I am convinced our fans will be excited to see him play. 'There's no doubt that he's now in the best place possible to develop further under Pep's guidance and I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction.' City's latest transfer activity continues an overhaul of the squad that began with the January signings of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis. Tijjani Reijnders has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City (Bradley Collyer/PA) Further deals are also possible as the club respond to a disappointing season in which they failed to mount a strong Premier League title defence and exited the Champions League before the last 16. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has been heavily linked with a move to City from AC Milan as Guardiola looks to bolster his midfield options following this summer's departure of Kevin De Bruyne. In further business, City have installed former Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders as Guardiola's new number two. The Dutchman, who served under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, was available after being sacked as manager at Red Bull Salzburg last December. His appointment coincides with that of James French as set-piece coach. French has been working at Liverpool for the past 13 years.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Referee is unimpressed' – England vs Senegal DELAYED with Three Lions stars forced to wait in tunnel for visitors
ENGLAND'S friendly with Senegal kicked off late - because the visitors were late out of the dressing room. The clash at the City Ground in Nottingham was due to get underway at 7.45pm. 2 England vs Senegal kicked off five minutes later than planned Credit: AFP 2 Senegal took an age coming out of the dressing room However, Nicolas Jackson got things underway at 7.50pm. And that was due to Pape Thiaw's team taking too long to come out and line up in the tunnel. ITV commentator Sam Matterface was describing the action live on TV. He said: "Welcome to the City Ground in Nottingham where we await the arrival of the Senegalese players who have eventually been coaxed out of the dressing room by French official Stephanie Frappart. "Three-and-a-half minutes after they were supposed to emerge." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
New £34m Man City hothead Rayan Cherki riled Man Utd fans with crude gesture and demanded to be sent back to youth team
RAYAN CHERKI has never been afraid of giving two fingers – and sometimes even more – to his haters on and off the pitch. 6 Manchester City-bound Rayan Cherki is used to making headlines Credit: AFP On the surface, City's deal to sign the But Pep Guardiola will be faced with the challenge of moulding Cherki's attitude as well as his game, with the Frenchman's reputation preceding him. Back in April, having scored in extra-time to give Lyon a second leg aggregate lead against The 21-year-old responded first by shaking his fist and then by grabbing his crotch with the wry smile of someone who embraces being the pantomime villain – no matter how crude. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL It's that bold confidence that is one of Cherki's biggest strengths, making him ready to take the Premier League by storm, but others have suggested it is a weakness of the rising star. It's the first time Cherki has been involved in controversy either. 6 Cherki grabbed his crotch after scoring against Manchester United in the Europa League this season PAST ISSUES The Lyon academy graduate caused a stir when he demanded he was sent back to the youth team to protest being benched for a first team fixture. His strop, which even left his father questioning his behaviour, was another example of behaviour that has left managers questioning his mindset in the past. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Lyon bosses of old have repeatedly voiced concern over Cherki's attitude. Rudi Garcia, who was the first Lyon manager to give Cherki a shot in the first-team, previously warned: "We all tell him that he'll have the career he deserves, provided that he keeps working. Arsenal legend Thierry Henry's wild dancing after guiding France to Olympics 2024 final "The danger is making him believe he is already one of the world's best players." Peter Bosz didn't hold back in his assessment of Cherki when he was playing him less than most fans would have liked after replacing Garcia. He said: "I choose my players to win. If I think I can win with Rayan, he'll play. It not, it will be someone else". While Fabio Grosso, Lyon boss in 2023, bluntly called out He slammed: "He's not an exceptional player. He has enormous technical talent but needs to work on the rest." Cherki has always been highly rated in his home country of France, and he finally 6 Cherki scored a stunning volley on his senior France debut last week Credit: AFP A LONG-STANDING REPUTATION At club level, his talent has always been known. Described as one of Lyon's most talented ever academy products, at the age of 16 years and 102 days he made his senior debut in the Champions League in November 2019. Two months later, he scored two and assisted two in a 4-3 Coupe de France win over Nantes. Not even Such inexperience but also such flare, individuality and showmanship. He had outgrown the youth system, playing with the U17s aged 14, and described it as being 'too easy' for him. Lyon's former academy director Jean-Francois Vulliez said: 'Every day, every training session, he would be dribbling past opponents and wanting to score. It was just in his DNA. 'We still do not know if his best foot is his right or left. At seven, eight, nine, it was the same. He could always play with both.' Physically, he was ready for the biggest of stages, but psychologically, he was not, struggling mentally to comprehend the spotlight he was now constantly in. His mentality was questioned, as was his physique, with cruel trolls mocking his stockier build, likened to a young, raw Wayne Rooney. As a result, his form became patchy. Vulliez added: 'Everything happened so fast and at the age of 16 he did not know what professional football was. He was a kid. 'There were a lot of people who were trying to smash him, but the fans did not understand when he lost the ball many times during games. 'He was always respectful but he could be emotional. He did not understand when he had to go to the bench.' 6 6 Cherki has had a reputation as one of France's top young talents since he was a kid Credit: X 6 A young Cherki was criticised for his attitude at times Credit: EPA FINDING HIS FEET This season has been the year that Cherki's reputation has reached the rest of Europe - registering 32 goal contributions in 44 appearances for Lyon across all competitions. That's sparked a move to Guardiola's Man City, a switch to play under a hard-hitting boss with a reputation of getting the best out of his players. And if Cherki's glowing reviews about his ability are anything to go by, City have secured the services of a gem in their pursuit to replace Kevin de Bruyne. Thierry Henry, Cherki's former France U21 coach and Olympic manager, claimed he had never seen a player dribble at such speeds with both feet. He told L'Equipe: " For me, we're talking about a guy who should have been battling with the others, at the very top, for a long time to see who is the best. "He fell behind because it took him a while to understand... But now, he's understood.' Lyon team-mate Alex Lacazette has suggested that the negative noise around Cherki was wide of the mark and his ability is the only thing that matters. He said: "I wondered what was going on because I saw his talent and I heard a lot of things I didn't understand. "He's just a player who needs help, to be told what he should do most and perhaps do a little less". Speaking this week about his perceived flaws, Cherki said: 'People don't know me very well, otherwise I'd be criticised less. "When people really get to know me, more than a few are surprised.' Man City and Guardiola know what they are getting with Cherki: a maverick, an entertainer, a creator – but one that has finally found his place, and is finally accepted for who he really is.
