Cristiano Ronaldo has named the five players he believes will challenge him for the Ballon d’Or – with some surprise choices.
The Juventus star is in the running to secure a yet another Ballon d’Or, and would earn a record sixth Golden Ball if he can beat the competition.
The Portugal international – who won another Champions League title with Real Madrid earlier in the year – thinks that there is a chance Lionel Messi may not crack the top three.
“The same as usual, even if I don’t know if Messi will be on the podium this time,” Ronaldo revealed.
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“So, let’s say Mohamed Salah, Luka Modric, Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane, Kylian Mbappe – the French in general because they are world champions.
“But I will wait and see if all these players are still at the top in 10 years, like Messi and I have done, and like we continue to do.
“Still there, on the podium, since more than 10 years.”