"Messi will win the Ballon D'Or" - Ronaldo

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi poses with his 4 FIFA Ballon d’Or

Luis Ronaldo in an interview with Marca, has sensationally claimed that Lionel Messi will lift the Ballon D’Or this year, ahead of favourites Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Ribery.  Messi, who has been sidelined till 2014 with a thigh injury has returned home to speed up his recovery but the Brazilian believes that he has already done enough to stake his claim for the coveted trophy.

“I think Messi will win the Ballon d’Or again”

The ex-Barcelona man, who himself has won the award twice in 1997 and 2002, has also tipped the Argentine hitman to come back even stronger from his current injury which has sidelined him for the rest of 2013 -

“Messi has spent the last five years playing so many matches and he is the biggest star in world football. Now, this injury isn’t serious, but maybe resting will allow him to recharge his batteries.”

The winner of the Ballon D’Or will be announced on the 13th of January at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich.