Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo, has conceded defeat to rival Lionel Messi in the race to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or in January.
Ronaldo, 30, scored 61 times in a goal-laden 2014/15 campaign which he claims was “probably the best season” of his career as far as individual achievements go.
Nevertheless, Messi netted 58 times in helping Barcelona to another treble last term, and the Portuguese – who has won the gong on three occasions – expects his old foe to triumph for a fifth time.
“To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes,” he told ITV during an interview with chat show host Jonathan Ross.
“You win competitions, you win Champions League you win the league in terms of individual.
“I did probably the best season of my career which is good and I was the highest scorer in Europe [but] it’s all about votes, it’s difficult and to be honest I’m not very worried about that because as I said many times, I never [thought I’d] win three times to be honest.”
Messi could be crowned Ballon D’or winner for a record fifth time – while Ronaldo has clinched the award thrice.
The likes of Neymar, Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez are also in the reckoning for the sport’s most coveted individual prize.
