Cristiano hits back at France Football editor for Ballon d'Or lies

Cristiano Ronaldo has hit out at France Football - to be more exact, at the publication's editor-in-chief Pascal Ferré: "It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie like that, in total disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d'Or". At the weekend, the French journalist accused the Manchester United forward of having a selfish agenda. "Ronaldo only has one ambition and that's to retire with more Ballons d'Or than Messi - I know because he told me himself. It's nothing to do with money. It's only about the trophy. Because having one means you have a place in football history". Ferre added that Cristiano will not be attending Monday's gala because he is in quarantine.

Cristiano has replied to those claims with an open letter on Instagram written in Portuguese. He slammed the France Football editor as being a liar about the alleged quarantine and what he is purported to have said to him about having more Ballon d'Or awards than his great rival Messi. Cristiano insists he never said those words to Pascal Ferré. He went on to explain that, "The main ambition in my career is to be a good example to all of those who are or want to become professional footballers".

Cristiano's reply to Pascal Ferré in full:

"I would like to respond to Pascal Ferré's comments from last week, when he said that I confided to him that my only ambition was to end my career with more Ballons d'Or than Lionel Messi. Pascal Ferré 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 such a manner - with total disrespect for somebody who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d'Or. And he lied again today, claiming that my absence from the gala is because of an alleged quarantine which simply doesn't exist.

"I always like to congratulate those who win, as part of the sportsmanship and fair play that have guided my career since the beginning; and I do it because I am never against anyone. I always win for myself and for the clubs I play for, I win for myself and for those who love me. I do not set out to beat anyone. The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international trophies for the clubs I represent and for my national team. The main ambition of my career has been to be a good example for all those who are or want to become professional footballers. The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football.

"I will end by saying that my attention is already focused on Manchester United's next game and on everything that we, my team mates and our fans, can still achieve this season. The rest? The rest doesn't matter..."