FIFA Best Player: Why Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed award ceremony

Facts have emerged on the real reason Juventus star, Cristiano Ronaldo, was not at FIFA’s The Best awards 2018, despite being nominated for two gongs.

The Portugal star was nominated for FIFA’s The Best Player award, the main award of the evening and was also up for the Puskas award, the goal of the year.

But the Juventus superstar snubbed the ceremony, because he was aware he won’t win either prize.

The 33-year-old had won five Ballon d’Ors and helped Real Madrid win a third Champions League crown in a row last season.

But he struggled at the World Cup with Portugal and was overshadowed by then Madrid team-mate, Luka Modric.

According to Express Sport, the Juventus forward said he did not attend because he wanted to stay in Turin and concentrate on upcoming matches.

It is the same reasoning he gave when he withdrew from the Portugal squad for the most recent international break.

Luka Modric took home the gong, and is the first man to win the award since 2007 that isn’t Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo also reportedly boycotted the UEFA player-of-the-year awards he believed he would not win.

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