Ronaldo’s slow start sparks Ballon d’Or race

MADRID: Two games without a goal is run of the mill for most footballers, but for Cristiano Ronaldo it constitutes a drought.

Ronaldo wil l be looking to forget his early season struggles as Real Madrid aim to lay down a marker in their quest for a third consecutive Champions League at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

He wanted to score which is normal, but it’s a long season and he always ends up making the difference. Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid boss

run of scoring in 73 straight games was ended in a shock 1- 0 defeat to Real Betis last midweek. Ronaldo also fired a blank as Madrid edged past bottom of the table Alaves on Saturday despite having 18 shots across his last two games. “Cristiano is like he always is. When he doesn’t score you ask me about him, but he is calm,” insisted Real boss Zinedine Zidane. “He wanted to score which is normal, but it’s a long season and he always ends up making the difference.” It would take s ome th i n g extraordinary to deny Ronaldo the Ballon d’Or after scoring 10 times from the Champions League quarter-finals on against a calibre of opposition such as Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.

Yet , Messi ’ s react ion to Neymar’s decision to forge pastures new at PSG has been a telling demonstration of who is really the irreplaceable figure at the Camp Nou.

Messi has helped guide Barca to six wins from six in La Liga and a 3- 0 thumping of Juventus in the Champions League scoring 12 goals in nine appearances in all competitions.

Indeed, at club level Messi now has 43 goals in 2017 to Ronaldo’s 29.

Neymar’s numbers are far more modest despite five goals in six games for PSG as he has adapted well to his new surroundings and new stature as the world’s most expensive player.

One of the Brazilian’s motives for leaving the lure of Messi and Barcelona behind was reportedly his desire to win the Ballon d’Or. But at 25 his time is more likely to come in future years if Messi (30) and Ronaldo (32) begin to wane.

Neymar will need to live up to the hype of his record price tag not just in Ligue 1 but at Champions League level to be crowned the world’s best and the visit of Bayern Munich to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday is his greatest opportunity to make an impact before January’s award ceremonies. — AFP