Cristiano Ronaldo explained the reason behind his tears during the 2013 Ballon d’Or award ceremony, clarifying that the emotional moment was spontaneous and not a calculated strategy. The images of Ronaldo shedding tears while receiving the prestigious award raised discussions, with some speculating on his intentions.
According to Ronaldo, the unexpectedness of winning the award, coupled with the sight of his son running towards him and his family’s emotional reaction, overwhelmed him. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ronaldo stated, “It’s a moment that I hadn’t imagined. Because to be honest, I didn’t expect to win. It was a moment of great emotion. Especially when I saw my son running towards me and throwing himself into my arms, happy. It increased my emotion tenfold. And I started to cry. And then, when I saw my family in tears, I cried even more.”
He emphasized that the tears were genuine and not a show, expressing his happiness at the unexpected win. Ronaldo described the moment as one of intense tension and liberation when his name was announced as the winner. He added, “When we don’t know who will win, these are moments of intense tension. And when you hear your name pronounced, you free yourself from an enormous weight. It’s like something coming out of your body.”
Ronaldo also mentioned that his tears had a therapeutic effect, releasing the pressure and stress he felt that evening. He shared, “In Zurich, I was so overwhelmed by emotion that I forgot everything… That evening I was very tired. I, who never hurt anywhere and am always in good shape, had a headache and a backache. I had so much pressure… When I cried, it all came out. Now when I run, I feel more liberated.”
