The Portuguese superstar admitted rival Lionel Messi is likely to pick up his fifth Ballon d’Or, given what FC Barcelona achieved last season — a historic La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble
The former Manchester United winger has been in London this week for the premiere of his new film ‘Ronaldo’, and appeared recently on British comedian Jonathan Ross’ popular talk show to promote the film.
In a rare moment of candour, the Real Madrid forward admitted that he expected FC Barcelona icon Lionel Messi to win his fifth Ballon d’Or, given what the Catalan club were able to achieve in the 2014-2015 season.
Ronaldo predicts Messi will win the Ballon d’Or
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Although Cristiano Ronaldo had another stellar season with Real Madrid and outscored everybody in Europe, the Real Madrid star admitted he is unlikely to pick up this year’s Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo said on the Jonathan Ross show (via the Guardian):
“To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes. You win competitions, you win the Champions League you win the league in terms of individual.
“I did probably the best season of my career which is good and I was the highest scorer in Europe [but] ita s all about votes, ita s difficult and to be honest Ia m not very worried about that because as I said many times, I never thought Ia d win three times to be honest.”
Messi overwhelming favourite for fifth Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi rediscovered his best form in the second half of the 2014-2015 season, and played some of the best football he has ever played in an FC Barcelona shirt. Quite simply, that level is peerless among current footballers, and quite possibly, in the history of the sport.
There is absolutely no doubt that the Argentine is the favourite for this year’s Ballon d’Or, and it is arguably one of the most straight-forward picks in years. As Ronaldo points out, the award is based on votes — from national team captains, coaches, and journalists — and no amount of political voting is going to change what is almost a foregone conclusion.
Lionel Messi will win his fifth Ballon d’Or come January, or the football world will see one of the biggest upsets in the award’s history.
