"I'm proud of it" - When Luis Suarez made Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo claim while talking about individual awards
Former Barcelona and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez claimed he was happy with his individual honors while mentioning Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the conversation. Despite managing to win the Premier League and La Liga top scorer awards, the Uruguayan could never get his hands on the Ballon d'Or.
During large parts of Suarez's career, Messi and Ronaldo were the ones who won the honor, with the pair claiming it 13 times between them. However, the Inter Miami striker seemingly hinted that he was satisfied with his achievements, given that his prizes were awarded based on goals scored.
In contrast, the Ballon d'Or is eventually given to players based on votes from journalists. Speaking about this during an interview with MARCA in 2021, Suarez said (via Tribuna):
"I'm above individual awards. I won two golden boots in Leo's and Cristiano's era and I'm proud of it because I won it with numbers, not votes."
"I like leader's responsibility. I scored 3 against Madrid without Leo, did something similar in Liverpool without Gerrard, and was Ajax's captain at 21," he added.
The 37-year-old is nearing the end of his professional career and currently represents MLS outfit Inter Miami, where he's contracted till December 2024. Suarez's most notable spell came at Barcelona, where he made 283 appearances across competitions, bagging 195 goals and 113 assists.
The former Ajax striker won the La Liga title four times with the Blaugrana while lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy once.
Cristiano Ronaldo's views on GOAT debate after Lionel Messi won the World Cup in 2022
Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo believes the GOAT debate will continue despite Lionel Messi winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. Many believed the Barcelona legend closed the conversation after La Albiceleste's World Cup triumph.
However, his Portuguese counterpart claimed that such talk would've continued even if he managed to win the World Cup with Portugal. Speaking about it previously, Ronaldo said (via SPORTbible):
"Even if I win the World Cup, that will continue. Some people like me more, some less. It's like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes."
"I have always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament," he added.
It remains to be seen if Ronaldo will feature at the 2026 World Cup, with him now 39 years old. His club contract with his Saudi Arabian employers runs out in the summer of 2025.