Cristiano Ronaldo Shouldn't Win Ballon D'Or Despite Incredible Year

After another impressive year for both club and country, Cristiano Ronaldo is once again in the running for the Ballon d'Or, announced as part of FIFA's 23-man shortlist in late October.

However, despite all the good he's accomplished in 2013, the Real Madrid megastar shouldn't be the one to lift the accolade in January.

As can often be the case with awards such as this, votes can frequently be swayed a lot more by the events leading up to a voting period as a opposed to the 10 months or so previous being remembered in equal measure.

	La Liga	Champions League	Copa Del Rey	Total
2012/13 Season	20	6	6	32
2013/14 Season	16	8	N/A	24
Total	36	14	6	56

For Ronaldo, it works hugely in his favour, of course, that Ballon d'Or voting was recently extended past its original deadline and now closes on November 29.

As the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman discussed recently, the extra fortnight of influencing meant that Portugal's overcoming of Sweden to reach the World Cup finals would have figured more greatly in the minds of those casting a vote.

The original vote deadline was pushed back due to FIFA not receiving as many votes as they had expected but meant that even those who had cast their vote could alter their choices before the new deadline.

Undoubtedly, those choices could take on a hugely pro-Ronaldo tinge in the coming week, with people right now as convinced as ever when it comes to the Portuguese's talents.

The default choice when looking for a competitor of the Ronaldo grade is, of course, Lionel Messi, who earlier this year, per Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail, became the first player ever to score against every other La Liga club in succession.

Honestly, the Argentinian has fallen out of the frame this season, struggling with injury and, per CNN's Al Goodman, caught up in a tax case that is bound to have tainted his image for some, it's fair to say 2013 hasn't been Messi's most fortunate year.

But then there are others who can stake a claim to the title, not least of whom is reigning European Player of the Year, Franck Ribery.

The last year or so has seen the Frenchman help vastly in firing Bayern Munich to domestic and European dominance, and while his Bundesliga goal count may not be as sky-high as the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, there is more to an award such as this than goals.

After all, if goals were all that mattered in voting, how is a goalkeeper or even a centre-back ever to have a hope of claiming the honour?

Instead, one must look at the individual and think what their team would be like were that one player not present. How great has their influence been on any success their club or country have come about this annual year?

As great as Ronaldo's latest international achievement was, people forget that Ribery, too, was essential in Les Bleus making it to Brazil after France came back to beat Ukraine 3-0 last week (3-2 on aggregate).

That's just one example, however. The list may be made up of 23, but for some reason it's only a select couple that tend really to be considered for the Ballon d'Or when our minds should, in fact, be far more open.