One thing about Ronaldo’s career is that it’s hard to point to major controversies surrounding his achievements. If there are any, they’re very few and far between.
Now compare that to the other guy.
He’s the only player whose club career is tied to a major refereeing controversy like the Negreira case. He’s the only one with around four Ballon d’Or wins that are still heavily debated. In fact, almost every major Ballon d’Or controversy of the modern era started with him.
He’s also the only player to win a World Cup Golden Ball that was so controversial the FIFA president later admitted it was a mistake. Then you have two different World Cup campaigns surrounded by officiating controversies and decisions that are still debated today.
At some point, you have to stop calling everything a coincidence. One incident can be a mistake. Two might be unfortunate. But when it’s three, four, or more times, it becomes a pattern.
None of this takes away from his incredible talent. He’s one of the greatest footballers ever. But it’s also fair to say that, throughout his career, he’s benefited from more controversial decisions than almost any other player in football history.