Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo to match Messi in this elite title?

Ronaldo
The 2017 Ballon d’Or will take place on Thursday. Image Source: twitter

Internet Desk: Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo is looking set to equal the score with his arch-rival and Argentine star Lionel Messi by winning his fifth Ballon d’Or for helping his Spanish Club team Real Madrid winning the La Liga and Champions League last season.

Barcelona heartthrob Lionel Messi won this prestigious from 2009 to 2012 and in 2015. On the other hand Ronaldo had bagged the award in 2008, 2013, 2014 and in 2015.

32-year old Ronaldo came under limelight when he started playing for Premier League giants Manchester United. Under the watchful eye of former Man United coach Sir. Alex Ferguson, he became more matured in his game. Ronaldo had an unforgettable season last year as he first won the Champions League title and later lead his country to win their maiden Euro Cup in 2016.

The man who came to maturity under the watchful eye of ex-Manchester United coach 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.

British bookmakers have stopped taking bets on Ronaldo, who is a cramped 10-1 on favourite to win, with Messi, trophyless last season, at 6-1.

After seeing off Napoli, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in the knock-out 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.

“Last season was exceptional. We won the league and the Champions League, where I was again the top scorer,” Ronaldo told French daily L’Equipe.

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 their talisman Ronaldo.

The only other Barca player other than Messi, is the Uruguayan centre-forward Luis Suarez.

On the prospect of equalling Messi’s five wins Ronaldo quipped: “I want seven. Five is good but seven is my lucky number so seven would be great. I want seven children and seven Ballons d’Or.”

Also, in the run up to the vote CR7 has only scored two goals in La Liga so far in this ongoing season — although he has scored eight goals in five outings in the Champions League — and Real are already eight points behind Messi’s Barcelona in the Spanish Premier League.

Messi in contrast tops the Liga scoring charts with 13 goals and also secured a brilliant hat-trick for Argentina against Ecuador to clinch a last-gasp World Cup place in October, earning wide praise.

“Leo is like Maradona for those of our generation,” said Messi’s compatriot, Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, himself tipped as a future winner. He dragged us to the World Cup with the hat-trick in Ecuador. He is a born leader.”