'Ridiculous and shameful' - Ronaldo agent fumes at UEFA Player of the Year snub

The 33-year-old did not turn up to the ceremony in response to being overlooked for the top prize, leaving Jorge Mendes enraged

Posted Friday, August 31, 2018 by Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has slammed UEFA for not giving the Juventus star the Player of the Year award.

Ronaldo did not show up at the Champions League group stage draw ceremony, where the awards for last season were handed out.

After winning a third consecutive Champions League crown with Real Madrid last season and finishing as the competition's top scorer, Ronaldo was named the best forward last season and was named among the final three for the big prize.

Instead, it was another Madrid hero, Luka Modric, who was named top performer overall, as chosen by 60 coaches from the Champions and Europa League competitions and 55 journalists from across Europe.

Modric collected 313 points, 90 more than Ronaldo, who finished ahead of Mohamed Salah in the chart.

But Jorge Mendes expected more for his client, as he feels the 33-year-old's status as the best around cannot be disputed.

"Football is played on the field and that's where Cristiano won," he told Record . " He scored 15 goals, carried Real Madrid on his back and conquered the Champions League again.

"It's ridiculous, shameful. The winner is not in doubt, as Ronaldo is the best in his position."

Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta backed up Mendes' criticism, expressing the Italian side's disappointment.

"The no-show was a personal decision of Cristiano, which we want to respect," he told Sky Sport.

"Our criticism concerns a deep bitterness for this decision, because the award refers to the Champions League and not to the World Cup and I believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has given the best emotions of the last edition and also fantastic goals.

"I take nothing away from the decision of journalists and coaches, but I would have voted for Cristiano Ronaldo and I say that as a football fan.

"His absence is a personal and private choice that has nothing to do with Juventus and must be respected. It would be nice for us to count some players among those who were given awards, but football is a team sport and we will face this Champions League with great determination."

The Serie A champions have been drawn with Manchester United , Valencia and Young Boys, while reigning European champions Real Madrid face Roma, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen.