Come October and the excitement levels begin to peak for most football fans. With the league fully underway and patterns beginning to emerge, the expectations of the fans are often improved or mellowed come the mid of October.
However, another event that gets the football fanatics excited is the announcement of contenders for the prestigious Ballon d’Or and its subsequent ceremony and crowning of the world’s most coveted player for the year.
Trending
One man who has been awarded the title on 3 previous occasions and is going from strength to strength is Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo. While he might not have begun the new season as he would have expected, largely owing to an injury picked up in the Euro 2016 finals against France, the Portuguese is beginning to find his feet in the new season and could soon return to his devastating best.
Having already established himself as one of the greatest footballers of all times, Ronaldo would be keen to improve on his current individual tally of Ballon d’Or awards.
Roberto Carlos backs Ronaldo
Ronaldo has been tipped to be in contention for yet another Ballon d’Or award come December and if Roberto Carlos’ words are to be believed the Portuguese already has the award in his pocket owing to his performances for club and country over the last 12 months.
While that might be some proclamation to make, especially after the fabulous performances of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann, the former Real Madrid left-back believes that none of the other contenders have had as big an impact as Cristiano.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the Real Madrid ambassador said,“[Ronaldo] has it at home already. He has taken time to get back to being himself after the knee injury [suffered at Euro 2016]. But from here on he will be the Cristiano we all know.”
Carlos’ views echoed by Simao
Ronaldo’s former Portugal teammate Simao Sabrosa too echoed the emotions of Carlos and claimed, “[Cristiano] has won it many times already, but while he keeps playing he will always fight to win it. He has a big chance to win this year, but while Messi and [Ronaldo] are playing there will always be the same conversation.”
“Cristiano has had a good season, but the Ballon d'Or is also decided in the last months. But for all that Cristiano has done, he deserves it," he went on to add.
A split between FIFA and France Football means that this year’s Ballon d’Or will be different than the ones we have witnessed earlier with only journalists voting for the most prestigious award and national team captains and coaches no longer being involved.
However, it remains to be seen if Ronaldo can truly beat off the competition from the likes of Suarez and Griezmann, who have been glorious over the last 12 months and are believed to be in serious contention for their first ever Ballon d’Or trophy.
(Video courtesy: JN Football YouTube channel)
More Football news, transfer rumours, analysis and features at Sportskeeda.com
