Ballon d’Or Organisers Blasted for Disrespecting Legendary Cristiano Ronaldo During Ceremony

• Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba appeared in briefs as their image was beamed to the screens during the Ballon d’Or awards
• Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi was named the best player in the world for a seventh time by France Football
• However, the organisers of the event have been blasted for disrespecting Ronaldo after the camera captured Lewandowksi, Messi and Kylian Mbappe laughing at the same time

One of the high points of the Ballon d’Or awards was when the organisers posted a Cristiano Ronaldo image where he was clad in briefs alongside Didier Drogba, SPORTbible reports.

Fans have taken to social media to blast the idea as 'joke' or 'disrespectful' as the 36-year-old was absent during the event.

It was the first time since 2010 that Ronaldo missed out of the top three contenders for the prize as Lionel Messi scooped his seventh Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo who found the back of the net 46 times in 59 matches was not present at the awards and his no show was a major talking point, Daily Star reports.

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At a point during the show, an image of Ronaldo and Drogba in briefs was beamed onto the screens while the camera captured the likes of Robert Lewandowksi, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at the same time.

Drogba, who was presenting the show alongside French journalist Sandy Heribert, even asked "why" moments later.

Ronaldo hits out at France Football’s editor-in-chief

Ronaldo earlier blasted France Football’s editor-in-chief who claimed the Portuguese is desperate to win more Ballon d’Or’s than his fiercest rival Messi.

He wrote on Instagram:

"Pascal Ferre said last week that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Golden Balls than Lionel Messi.

"Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for. It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d'Or.

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“And he lied again today by justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist.”

Chelsea are best football club in the world

Legit.ng earlier reported that Chelsea were named the 2021 Club of the Year at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony hosted at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on the night of Monday, November 29.

The Blues had a successful 2021, with both the men's and women's teams shining.

Success for the academy, women's and men's team subsequently saw Chelsea bag the inaugural award at the gala night.