Ronaldo absent from FIFA voting again as Portugal shifts leadership roles

December 16, 2025 Oliver Obel

FIFA’s voting rules are straightforward: each nation submits ballots from its head coach, a designated captain, and a selected journalist.

Crucially, the “captain” listed on FIFA documents does not always match the individual wearing the armband on match day. Federations may designate a different representative for administrative duties, and Portugal has increasingly leaned into that flexibility.

That shift became evident last year. According to AS, Bernardo Silva not Ronaldo was listed as Portugal’s voting captain for the 2024 FIFA Best Men’s Player award.

Silva selected Rodri, Vinicius Junior, and Erling Haaland as his top three choices, underscoring his growing role within the national team’s leadership structure.

This arrangement has persisted long enough to become a pattern. For 2025, the same system is expected, meaning Portugal’s votes will again reflect the preferences of Silva or another senior representative rather than Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, the race for FIFA’s men’s awards continues without him: Mohamed Salah, Ousmane Dembele, and Portuguese talents Nuno Mendes and Vitinha are among the names in contention.

Coaching nominees include Luis Enrique, Mikel Arteta, Hansi Flick, and Arne Slot, while the Puskas Award field features Declan Rice and rising prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Why Ronaldo’s name is missing from the ballots

The roots of the arrangement date back to the 2022 World Cup. Goal previously reported that FIFA confirmed Pepe was responsible for Portugal’s votes after the tournament, a decision made during a period when Ronaldo was moving in and out of the starting lineup.

The same system carried into 2023, suggesting a deliberate continuity rather than a temporary adjustment.

Within Portuguese football, the move has been interpreted as a quietly managed transition. While Ronaldo remains the symbolic captain on the pitch, the federation appears to have shifted some off-field responsibilities to the next generation of leaders a common practice as national teams evolve.

Distance from award ceremonies adds to the mystery

Ronaldo’s absence from voting also mirrors his reduced engagement with global award bodies. In an interview with The Times, France Football editor Vincent Garcia spoke about how some former Ballon d’Or winners decline to return for ceremonies or participate in voting.

Garcia noted that Ronaldo had not cast ballots for the Ballon d’Or or the Kopa Trophy in recent years, despite being eligible as a past winner.

“I don’t know for certain Cristiano is [upset], I don’t talk to him directly,” Garcia said, “but I know, for example, that former winners vote for the Kopa Trophy … and Cristiano didn’t vote last year, and he didn’t vote this year either.”

Whether this reflects disillusionment, personal preference, or simply a shift in priorities is unclear. But together with Portugal’s internal restructuring, it reinforces the sense that Ronaldo’s relationship with football’s award ecosystem has cooled.

What it means for the road ahead

Regardless of his involvement in voting, Ronaldo shows no signs of stepping away from the game itself. His new contract with Al-Nassr, signed in June, ensures he remains the centerpiece of the club’s project.

He has also continued to draw global attention including a recent high-profile meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump as excitement builds toward the 2026 World Cup.

For now, Portugal’s ballots will be filled out by other members of the national team setup. Ronaldo’s influence on the pitch remains enormous, but when it comes to FIFA’s biggest individual awards, his role has quietly shifted from decision-maker to observer.

Sources: AS, Goal, The Times