Controversial former Argentinian international playmaker Diego Maradona has tipped Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo to win the prestigious Ballon dor title when the award is announced in early January.
Maradona has previously voiced his support to fellow Argentine Lionel Messi to pick up the award in Zurich, but this year with Messi injured, Ronaldo is the clear favourite to beat French winger Frank Ribary, who has already won the French footballer of the year award.
However, for this year’s award recognising the world’s best player, the footballing legend has asserted that Real Madrid’s leading man deserves praise.
Maradona, who was a former great at Barcelona, having played for the Catalan side between 1982-1984 believes that Ronaldo ids the clear winner of this year’s award, having starred in a Madrid shirt this season.
Maradona was quoted in an interview……
“Messi has been injured a lot this year, Cristiano Ronaldo should win the Ballon d’Or,” Maradona has commented to Le Buteur this week.
Ronaldo, who has enjoyed a superb career in the Spanish capital, scoring 163 goals, since joining in 2009, from Manchester United in a then World record fee for a professional footballer.
The Portuguese international scored 34 goals last campaign, and has scored 17 goals in 15 games this season, Ronaldo has also helped Portugal qualify for the World Cup Final’s next summer, after the win over Sweden in the play off’s.
The winger is so confident that he will win the award that he has saved a place in his recently opened museum for the trophy.
Ronaldo was quoted at the opening of his museum, on the island of Maidera.
“Of course it’s a special day, it’s the opening of my museum and I am proud,” the Portugal forward, who has scored 33 goals this season, said. “I have room for more trophies. I don’t really want to mention specific ones. All I want is to win more awards and, if the Ballon d’Or comes, there is extra room here.”
By Ben Reardon
‘BenReardon1
