All bets are off, it will be Ronaldo
– Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to match his great rival Lionel Messi tonight by claiming a fifth Ballon d’Or as recognition for leading Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double last season.
Barcelona’s Argentinian superstar, 30, won the coveted award from 2009 to 2012 and in 2015. Portugal’s Ronaldo, 32, took the honours in 2008, 2013, 2014 and last year.
The man who came to maturity under the watchful eye of ex-Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson clinched his fourth Ballon d’Or after an unforgettable season, first spearheading Real to the Champions League title before also leading his homeland to Euro 2016 glory in Paris.
The France Football magazine award is decided upon by a journalists ballot with each naming a top five from a list of 30.
British bookmakers have stopped taking bets on Ronaldo, who is a 10-1 on favourite to win, with Messi, trophyless last season, at 6-1.
Behind this pair the bookies round out their own top five with Paris Saint-Germain’s gifted Brazilian forward Neymar, the veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and the prolific England centre-forward Harry Kane all at 33-1.
The 2016/2017 season was in a way just as glorious for Ronaldo, who started the season slowly before Real shaded Barcelona to the domestic title and then became the first side in the modern era to defend their European crown.
After seeing off Napoli, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in the knockout rounds Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win over Juventus in the final, taking his tally to 12 goals in the competition that season.
Real have a staggering seven players on the shortlist of 30 with Karim Benzema, Marcelo, Isco, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos all nominated alongside Ronaldo.
Aside from Messi and Ronaldo the Ballon d’Or has three triple winners – Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten. – AFP