Brazil coach Tite believes that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo should win the 2016 Ballon d’Or and has snubbed Barcelona‘s Lionel Messi while naming his top three.
Ronaldo enjoyed much success this year for club and country – he won Euro 2016 with Portugal and the Champions League with Real Madrid – and the 31- year-old is widely expected to claim the prize when the winner is announced in January.
As reported by Fifa.com, Tite told Brazilian paper Estado de Sao Paulo how he will vote in the Ballon d’Or this year: “Messi’s the best in the world, but this year, Ronaldo has been the best. For his triumphs, Cristiano’s year has been better.
“In second, Neymar, and in third, [Antoine] Griezmann. I left Messi out because he was injured a lot. Cristiano is direct, is fascinated with the goal. Messi is playful, creative.”
Messi won the Ballon d’Or last year but Ronaldo’s excellent form, which saw him score 35 goals in 36 games in La Liga last season, should see the Portuguese prevail on this occasion.
Despite missing several matches at the start of the season due to injury, Ronaldo has also been a regular on the scoresheet this campaign, finding the net ten times in as many league appearances.
Although he still managed to produce some magical moments, Messi wasn’t quite at his scintillating best last season but is still highly likely to make the final three for the Ballon d’Or when the initial shortlist is whittled down.
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