Cristiano Ronaldo Already Has 2016 Ballon d'Or at Home, Says Roberto Carlos

Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos believes Los Blancos superstar Cristiano Ronaldo already has the 2016 FIFA Ballon d'Or wrapped up. 

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the holder of the gong, but Ronaldo—already a three-time winner of the award—has enjoyed a stellar year, leading Real to UEFA Champions League glory in May and winning Euro 2016 with Portugal less than two months later.

The 31-year-old was delayed in starting the new term with Real due to a knee injury picked up in the Euro 2016 final, and he has yet to hit his usual superlative form. However, former Brazil international Carlos said the Ballon d'Or is Ronaldo's this year, per Rosa Doro of TuttoMercatoWeb.

"He's already got the [Ballon d'Or] trophy at home, but no one said it," Carlos said. "He needed some time to get back at his level after the knee injury, but from now on we will see the Cristiano we all know, the same that won the European Championship with Portugal: I wish him all the good luck he needs."

Ronaldo was on the scoresheet as Real thrashed Real Betis 6-1 away on Saturday to end a run of four games on the spin without a win in all competitions.

It was the former Manchester United man's second goal in five La Liga appearances so far this term.

As discussed below by Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe and Dean Jones, Ronaldo has not started the season in the kind of form usually expected of him:

Last season, he netted at almost a goal per game in La Liga—scoring 35 in 36 appearances—and returned a staggering 16 goals in 12 as Real won the Champions League, per WhoScored.com.

Clearly, with the Portuguese having recovered from his injury, Carlos believes Ronaldo is now set to return to that kind of form despite the fact he is closing in on his 32nd birthday.

Per Sky Football, during the recent international break, he netted four in Portugal's 6-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying drubbing of Andorra:

And his goal against Betis—Real's sixth—was vintage Ronaldo as he made a bursting run through the opposition defence and blasted a finish home.

The Ballon d'Or has been monopolised by Messi and Ronaldo for the last eight years. Only a very brave punter would bet against that run extending to nine years in 2016 and, as Carlos noted, it seems it will be the turn of Ronaldo again given the year he has enjoyed.