Diego Maradona Insists Manuel Neuer Must Beat Cristiano Ronaldo to Ballon d'Or

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has waded into the debate surrounding the upcoming Ballon d'Or, suggesting Manuel Neuer deserves to pip compatriot Lionel Messi and front-runner Cristiano Ronaldo to the award.

Speaking to Radio Habana Cuba, the ever-controversial Maradona insisted Neuer's part in Germany's summer World Cup win makes him the most deserving of the prestigious award for 2014, via FIFA.com:

"Neither Messi, nor Ronaldo, my favourite is Neuer, he's the one who deserves it the most."

Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

While many would agree the Bayern Munich goalkeeper thoroughly deserves the award, Maradona's rationale seems somewhat odd as he also suggested that, while Neuer has excelled in the past year, "Ronaldo and Messi were resting."

This seems an odd attitude to have toward a pair who have contributed a combined 100 league goals in 2014, per Infostrada Sports, with Ronaldo picking up a Champions League title at Real Madrid and Barcelona's Messi taking Argentina to the World Cup final:

The Ballon d'Or is set to be awarded on Jan. 12 in Zurich, with Ronaldo the favourite and current holder, and Messi having been crowned world player of the year four times previously.

It would be Neuer's first recognition as the world's best player and a rare top award for a goalkeeper, with many backing the German whose inimitable "sweeper-keeper" style has brought him many plaudits, per the Bundesliga:

Andriy Shevchenko has also backed the 28-year-old Neuer for the award, outlining his vast contribution to Germany's glory in Brazil as he fulfilled more than what is expected of a goalkeeper, per FIFA (h/t AS):

"

I watched the World Cup and watched Neuer lift the trophy. He was fantastic because he not only had to fulfil the traditional role of being the team’s goalkeeper, he also had to act as the last man in defence. He participated in the distribution of the ball at the back and that was a big help to his defenders. He was fantastic in every way. He’s my choice to win the Ballon d’Or. 

"

The former AC Milan and Chelsea striker puts forward a very valid argument, but the most likely winner of the Ballon d'Or is still Ronaldo.

Although the Portuguese performed somewhat indifferently at the World Cup, with his side being knocked out at the group stage, Ronaldo's performances for Real have been superlative all year, per Eurosport's Andy Mitten, and he was a key figure as they won the Champions League:

In Real's victorious campaign for the elusive La Decima, Ronaldo contributed a quite ludicrous 17 goals in 11 games, per WhoScored.com, a European Cup record.

He has continued to score at an alarming rate, picking up 26 goals already in the 2014-15 La Liga season, per WhoScored, as Los Blancos sit atop the division after 16 games.

Neuer has most certainly been one of the standout players in the world this year and there is a convincing argument to suggest he deserves to win the 2014 Ballon d'Or.

That does not, however, mean that he will win the award, in fact, Ronaldo is the most likely to claim that honour.