Barcelona midfielder Xavi has questioned whether Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d’Or and wouldn’t even place the Portuguese in his top three.
– #360Awards: VOTE for your star sportsmen, sportswomen and teams of 2014
– #Quiz360: Wednesday’s teasers – WIN dinner for 2 at Media Rotana
Ronaldo is expected to claim his third Ballon d’Or next month after a calendar year in which he scored 61 goals in 60 games for club and country and lifted the Champions League with Real Madrid having ended the competition as its top goalscorer.
However, the one blot on the forward’s copybook is his disappointing tournament in Brazil in which Portugal crashed out at the group stage with Ronaldo struggling in South America with a knee injury.
The other two names on the shortlist, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer, both enjoyed fine World Cups with the latter triumphing in the final and being named best goalkeeper while the Argentine forward scored four goals in winning the Golden Ball.
In an interview with Spanish daily Sport, Xavi said: “He didn’t do much in the World Cup, and in a World Cup year, the season is defined by that. I would have Leo, second Philipp Lahm, and third Javier Mascherano.”
The future of Messi at Barcelona has also generated a considerable amount of intrigue with the forward said to be unsettled.
However, Xavi added: “He is happier than ever. He’s the best player in the world and we have to live with this kind of news. But I see him happy and content.”