Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a massive stir with his reply to a social media post criticising Lionel Messi's seventh Ballon d'Or win.
Messi Makes Admission After Seventh Ballon D'Or Win
On Wednesday, the 36-year-old seemed to agree with a super-fan's social media post claiming that the Red Devils striker should have finished higher than sixth in the Ballon d'Or ranking, and that Messi should not have won the award over Robert Lewandowski.
In the lengthy post, the account, called "@cr7.the_legendario", recalled Ronaldo's achievements in this calendar year, before writing "Theft. Dirt. Shame. Simply regrettable" in response to the accolade going to the former Barcelona forward.
The fan ended their rant by insisting that Ronaldo "will always be the best in history", despite the Paris Saint-Germain forward now boasting seven Golden Balls compared to the Portugal captain's five.
Here you can see who finished above Ronaldo in the final Ballon d'Or ranking:
Then, in a moment that has appeared to take many by surprise, Ronaldo liked the Instagram post and commented with the word "facts", suggesting he is in agreement with what was being said, as per Fox Sports.
This comes only days after France Football editor Pascal Ferre claimed that the ex-Real Madrid talisman told him it was his burning desire to retire from football with more Ballon d'Or titles than Messi.
In a lengthy Instagram post of his own, Ronaldo hit out at Ferre's remarks, denying he had ever said that, although comments from the United No. 7 during an interview he did with Piers Morgan have emerged, in which he did seem to state that his wish was to win the prize more times than Messi.
Lewandowski To Be Handed Ballon D'Or?
After being quizzed by Morgan on what achievements he wanted before hanging up his boots, he replied: "The most Golden Balls in the history of football. I will love it and I think I deserve it. Messi is a fantastic guy and a fantastic player, but I think after I have six, or seven, or eight, then I'll be more above him."
