Hypocrisy.As harsh as it may sound, there’s no better term to explain what current Paris Saint-Germain defender and former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has done.When journalists asked him in 2018 if he thinks this would be the year he’ll win the Ballon d’Or award, he stated:”I’m not interested in the Ballon d’Or. I would have played tennis if I wanted individual trophies.”That’s what he said. At least – in public.Class is permanent: Sergio Ramos impresses nay-sayers on his long-awaited Paris debutHowever, the much-respected Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reveals the truth was much different, as Ramos almost begged the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, to help him win the prestigious award!?Ramos, then Madrid captain, sent a voice message to Rubiales in 2019, asking him for a massive favour.Just a reminder of how close Virgil Van Dijk was to winning the Ballon D’or in 2019.He’s a defender. pic.twitter.com/nRPsGqfcQj— Olivier Louise🇫🇷 (@OlivierSZNN) June 21, 2022 “Rubi, good night. I hope you’re doing well with the whole family. You know I’ve never asked you for anything, but if I want to do it today, it’s because I think it’s a special year for the performance I’ve given,” says Ramos in a message to Rubiales, in which he also asks him to help him in whatever way he can to touch some “keys from UEFA”, with his contacts “for the Ballon d’Or issue”. “I would be grateful to you all my life. Not only for me, but also because I think that Spanish football deserves it very much,” says Ramos, who ends the message with “I send you a hug.” Ramos wants five more years at the highest level – but he’s only made seven appearances all seasonThe message, to which Rubiales replied with the promise to help Ramos in any way possible, ended up not being effective since Sergio Ramos was not the winner of the Ballon d’Or that year but then-Barcelona star, and his current PSG teammate, Leo Messi. THU: 03.30: (1.65) DEPORTIVO CALI (3.50) MELGAR (5.60)Ramos obviously hoped for Rubiales’ help, but the truth is that the Ballon d’Or is awarded by the French magazine France Football and is unrelated to any football governing body. In addition, the winner is decided through a vote in which 180 journalists from around the world award points.
