Ribery Taunted By Portugal Fans When Ronaldo Scores Following His Hit Back Online

There was always going to be drama by the bucket load at The Allianz Arena when Portugal went head to head with their Spanish neighbours in the UEFA Nations League final. But it took a bit of an unexpected turn when Frenchman Franck Ribéry found himself to be a part of the drama himself - as Portugal fans started chanting at him and mocking him after Cristiano Ronaldo scored the team’s equaliser.

Fans spotted Ribéry, the former Bayern Munich legend, in the crowd during Sunday’s action-packed match… and his presence certainly didn’t go unnoticed, especially given the most recent online exchange between him and Ronaldo over one of football’s most debated individual achievements - the Ballon d'Or.

A Long-Running Dispute Gets Rekindled

Ronaldo recently commented that in order to win the Ballon d’Or, a footballer should be required to have lifted the Champions League trophy. Just ahead of the game, he said,

“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.”

Although he did later go on to downplay the importance of getting individual trophies, what he said seemed to strike a nerve with Ribéry… and the Frenchman didn’t take long to respond when he Instagrammed:

“So you NEED to win the Champions League to win the Ballon d’Or?”

For Ribéry, it seems the remark hit a little bit too close to home. In 2013, he was one of the players who helped Bayern Munich get that historic treble— the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League. And that same year, he also added the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his collection- an incredible season for any player and club by anyone’s standards - with his 22 goals and 18 assists being a big part of that success.

And yet, even though he was a massive contributor to this record-breaking Bayern side, he only actually managed to come third in the Ballon d'Or voting— behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. And there were plenty of football fans - and, of course, Ribery himself, who thought it was unfair.

This obviously led to the discussion… What is it that gives the player the edge? Can you actually predict who will win? When you read the top Sportbook reviews from experts and place your bets on who will walk away with the trophy - how can you predict who will win? Is it talent, skill, success… or just who’s flavour of the month?

Years of Frustration

When he was interviewed by L’Equipe, he called the result “the biggest injustice” of his career.

“Not only for me—for many people. I was on top, and I finished third. I had nothing to envy Ronaldo or Messi that year.”

And the feelings never went away… When speaking to Gazzetta Dello Sport years later, he still talked about how unjust it was:

“It was unfair... They extended the time for votes, and something strange happened. I felt that it was a political choice.”

And that’s precisely why his recent response to Ronaldo has gotten so much attention. He’s never been shy when talking about how disappointed he was with the 2013 decision - and it seemed Ronaldo’s remarks might well have reopened the old, festering wound.

Portugal Fans Back Ronaldo

Obviously, the Portuguese will always back Ronaldo - and boy, did they let their feelings be known. After Ronaldo netted his 61st-minute goal to bring Portugal level at 2-2 against Spain, it didn’t take long for his supporters to turn their attention to Ribery in the stands.

In a video clip - that’s now gone viral - Ribery is seen near the crowd as fans celebrate the goal. Some fans were mocking him, chanting and pointing in his direction—likely in response to the ongoing Ballon d’Or controversy.

Another social media post simply read:

“FRANCK RIBERY was at the Stadium 😂😂😂😂😂😂”

Although Ribery managed to keep his cool and stay composed, it just goes to show how even retired players are still under the scrutiny of fans… even years later, especially if there’s some kind of old rivalry involved.

Ronaldo Makes History Again

Cristiano Ronaldo’s equaliser didn’t just add another goal to his international career - bringing his tally to 138 for Portugal - but it also turned the whole tide of the final - Portugal went on to win on penalties, making them the first country to win the UEFA Nations League twice.

He might be no spring chicken in the footballing world, but he still knows how to make a mark on the international stage… especially when it matters the most!

Ribery Vs Ronaldo

This to-ing and fro-ing between Ribery and Ronaldo is a lot more than just a personal feud— it actually leads to a long-needed conversation about how these footballing awards are actually decided. Ribery’s feelings are shared by various other frustrated players who also feel as though they’ve been overlooked for various reasons, such as popularity contests. I mean, who can compete with Messi and Ronaldo in the popularity polls?

Whether it was his 2013 Ballon d’Or loss or his overall annoyance with how the rewards are decided, he certainly raises a valid question. Was Ronaldo’s win that year really because he was the player who deserved it the most? Or were there other factors that ended up tipping the scales? With such a successful season, he had a point when he said, “Something strange happened.”

An Ongoing Battle

Ribery being there at the Nations League final definitely added an unexpected twist to what was already an exciting football matchup. He may well have gone to watch the game in peace… but his recent comments meant that he was always going to get some attention when people spotted him watching Ronaldo play.

And boy, were Portugal fans quick to seize the day when Ronaldo netted that goal - reminding Ribery just how passionate Ronaldo’s followers could be. And, with Ronaldo still scoring and Ribery still speaking out, we don’t think it’s done just yet.