Cristiano Ronaldo reveals who his son Mateo thinks is the best player in the world... and it's not him or Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo reveals who his son Mateo thinks is the best player in the world... and it's not him or Lionel Messi
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For a decade and a half the debate around who should be recognised as the best player in the world was largely a discussion involving just two players. The Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi duopoly over the men's Ballon d'Or award was broken only twice between 2008 and 2023 - by Luka Modric in 2018 and then by Karim Benzema four years later.
![[But Ronaldo's son Mateo, pictured (right) alongside siblings Eva Maria (left) and Cristiano Jr (centre) during Paris Fashion Week last year, does not think his dad is the world's best player]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/17/94692831-14343179-image-a-1_1738256836184.jpg)
But the era of Ronaldo and Messi dominating the world game is seemingly over. Messi, now 37 and playing for Inter Miami, and Ronaldo, who will turn 40 next week and is currently based in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, both failed to make the top 30 in the Ballon d'Or vote last year.
![[Mateo does not believe that eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is currently No 1 either]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/17/94693167-14343179-image-a-3_1738257291763.jpg)
So if one of those guys are no longer No 1 then who is?. Well, Rodri won the 2024 edition of the Ballon d'Or, with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham placing second and third. However, according to Ronaldo's son Mateo - who recently celebrated his eighth birthday - the top baller on the planet right now is the man who came sixth in last year's vote.
![[According to Mateo, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe is the best player on the planet right now]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/17/94693113-14343179-image-a-4_1738257336970.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or award five times, in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. But Ronaldo's son Mateo, pictured (right) alongside siblings Eva Maria (left) and Cristiano Jr (centre) during Paris Fashion Week last year, does not think his dad is the world's best player.
![[Mbappe's France knocked Ronaldo's Portugal out of UEFA Euro 2024 at the quarter-final stage]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/17/94693149-14343179-image-a-5_1738257338567.jpg)
Mateo does not believe that eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is currently No 1 either. Speaking to La Sexta recently, Ronaldo revealed that he and Mateo disagree about the current world order. Ronaldo explained: 'Mateo, he really likes [Kylian] Mbappe. He sometimes tells me: "Hey dad, Mbappe is better than you," and I reply by saying: "No, I am better than him, I have scored more goals."'.
