Top 5 Ballon d'Or 2018 predictions thus far

#4 Michel Platini only sees one French defender winning the award this year

Platini insisted that Raphael Varane should be awarded the Golden Ball this year

Michel Platini made a bold claim in an interview with RMC. Snubbing favourites Ronaldo and Messi, he has backed France defender Raphael Varane for the award.

Platini is a three-time Ballon d'Or winner himself, so he should know what it takes and believes that his compatriot has done everything that needs to be done win the award.

Plantini told RMC: "It's a Frenchman who is going to have a Golden Ball."There's always the Ronaldo-Messi debate, but this year there's only one player who has won a European Cup and the World Cup, it's Varane."

He compared the Real Madrid defender's season to that of 2006 award winner Fabio Cannavaro, the last defender to win the award to emphasize his claim.

"Let's not forget that in 2006 it was a defender, Fabio Cannavaro , who won the Ballon d'Or."