Ronaldo Absent from FIFA's The Best Voting Due to Captaincy Status
Cristiano Ronaldo did not participate in FIFA's The Best award voting, as Bernardo Silva was designated to vote on behalf of Portugal.
During the recent FIFA The Best awards ceremony, Vinícius Júnior was honored as the world's best player, following a stellar season with Real Madrid in both the Champions League and La Liga.
Traditionally, national team captains and coaches cast votes for these awards. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, the usual captain of Portugal, was absent from the voting list. Instead, Bernardo Silva submitted votes on behalf of the Portuguese national team.
According to reports from the Spanish newspaper AS, while Ronaldo often wears the captain's armband, he may not be officially registered as the team's captain. Consequently, Bernardo Silva, who assumes the captaincy in Ronaldo's absence, was recognized as the official captain for voting purposes.
This development suggests that Portuguese football authorities are preparing Bernardo Silva to succeed Ronaldo as the national team's leader, anticipating a seamless transition when Ronaldo eventually retires from international duty.