Michael Owen may have misjudged this one, ever so slightly.
The former Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid striker was invited over to the Bernabeu at the weekend to help celebrate Los Blancos’ remarkable Ballon d’Or achievements.
Owen was joined by Ronaldo Luis Nazario, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Alfredo di Stefano on the pitch as Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with his fourth Ballon d’Or.
Following the ceremony, Owen tweeted a joke about Ronaldo’s weight and copped a fair amount of flak in response.
Spanish publication AS caught up with Ronaldo, who played for Real between 2002 and 2007, to get his reaction to Owen’s tweet. The Brazilian was less than impressed. He commented:
“I am shocked as to how much importance my weight garners in the world we live in. I don’t know why it is so important, to be honest.”
Roberto Carlos, who played with both men during his time in Spain, also gave his take on the storm in a tweet.
“I don’t like these type of jokes,” he said. “Ronaldo is a very good friend of mine and we have to be careful.
“The thing about Ronaldo is not about his body, it’s his heart, he has a very big heart.”
That he does. Top player in his day too.
