Gianluigi Buffon: It is hard for goalkeepers to win the Ballon d'Or, Ronaldo deserves to win it
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon recently spoke to FIFA.com in an interview where he spoke about the upcoming Ballon d’Or award while picking Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite ahead of Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer.
The 23-man list was narrowed down to the final three by FIFA and as usual, the predicted three finalists of this year are Messi, Ronaldo and Neuer, but the Italian goalkeeper insists that it will take something truly exceptional for a goalkeeper to win the award.
“For a goalkeeper to win the award today something truly exceptional has to happen,” he said when asked why it is so difficult for a goalkeeper to win the award. “Often the prize doesn’t go to the best player, but to the player who has won more games, and who was most decisive in those victories.”
“So perhaps a goalkeeper will win the Ballon d’Or when he helps his team become world champions by winning four games in a row on penalties and saving every spot-kick (laughs). That way no one can overlook him! But something really remarkable needs to happen.”
When asked who deserved to bag the award this year, Buffon said, "Probably [Cristiano] Ronaldo. Even if he hadn’t won the UEFA Champions League, the player who is the best at a particular moment should be rewarded. Ronaldo – in addition to having a splendid career and maintaining a high level of performance over a long period – has done something exceptional over the last two years and deserves the recognition.”
However, he agreed that it was Messi who was a better player of the two, and it was because of Ronaldo's sheer determination that the Portuguese now stands as the favourite.
He said, “That said, I still think that [Lionel] Messi is still the best overall, because when he is 100 per cent he is simply sublime to watch. But there is not much difference between the two: they are playing at such a high level that if one drops just a little, the other will overtake him.”
“And what Ronaldo did this year was beautiful to behold: incredibly decisive and professional,” he added. “You realise that he has the right mindset and is working towards goals that he sets himself. In the end, people who stand out so deservedly, thanks to their hard work and sacrifice, should be rewarded.”
Watch the full interview here: