Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon D'Or Votes Show How He Attributes Real Madrid Success

Cristiano Ronaldo's votes for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or read: Sergio Ramos first, Gareth Bale second and Karim Benzema third. 

Now if you're one of the growing number of football followers who view the Ballon d'Or as little more than a popularity contest, the release of the voting breakdown for the 2014 award is only likely to reinforce that view.

Ronaldo, as you can see, naturally left Lionel Messi out of his top three. Messi naturally did the same to Ronaldo.

Frankly, it was expected (they chose club and national teammates instead), given that they did the same last year, too. 

They weren't the only ones to vote in such a manner, though. In fact, a number of prominent players selected a teammate for the first position of their vote:

• Ronaldo selected Ramos 
• Messi selected Angel Di Maria 
• Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger selected Manuel Neuer 
• Colombia captain Radamel Falcao selected James Rodriguez
• Wales captain Ashley Williams selected Bale 
• Belgium captain Vincent Kompany selected Thibaut Courtois
• Netherlands captain Robin van Persie selected Arjen Robben 

And, predictably, it was much the same with a number of the coaches, all of it serving to only further erode the Ballon d'Or's validity even though Ronaldo was a deserving winner.

As such, we're gradually being forced to look away from the award's results to find anything of genuine interest, which, in the case of the triumphant Ronaldo, was there to be found when looking at the identity of those who earned his votes.

According to Ronaldo, Real Madrid's success in 2014 hinged most on—aside from himself—Ramos, Bale and Benzema. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

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It's an interesting insight into who the Portuguese views as the cornerstones of the team. In his selections, it's clear his No. 1 criteria is goalscoring, given that Benzema and Bale are his partners in Real Madrid's rampant attack, while Ramos is the impulsive central defender who scored goal after goal in the closing stages of last season as Los Blancos stormed to the Champions League title. 

Just as intriguing as the inclusions, though, are the exclusions from Ronaldo's top three. 

Despite widely viewed as the club's second most influential player last season, there was no place for Di Maria. Neither for Luka Modric, who's been the chief architect of Real's midfield under Carlo Ancelotti. Nor for Xabi Alonso, whose return from injury midway through last season kicked the men from the Bernabeu into another gear in the new year. 

Nor was there room for Toni Kroos or Rodriguez, the club's newest signings who've starred since moving to the Spanish capital from Bayern Munich and Monaco, respectively. 

No, instead, it appears that Ronaldo views Ramos, Bale and Benzema as the key figures of his team, the other core players in this all-conquering incarnation of Real Madrid. 

Particularly notable is the second of those, Bale. 

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Recently, it's felt as though the once-blossoming relationship between Ronaldo and the Welshman was becoming strained. When Bale opted to go it alone against Espanyol on Saturday, choosing not to square a pass to the Ballon d'Or winner and firing wide, Ronaldo was visibly incensed. And not for the first time this season. 

Not all that dissimilar scenes were evident on numerous occasions against Celta Vigo in December. And again against Almeria. And again against Valencia. Each time, the frustration seemed to grow. 

But the moment of tension against Espanyol was the most significant, as Ronaldo did nothing to hide his furious displeasure, prompting a chorus of whistles directed at Bale to ring around the the Bernabeu. 

Somehow, the former Tottenham star left a game that he set up cast oddly as the villain—Ronaldo's rage driving the criticism, the incessant video footage shown around the world thereafter reinforcing it. 

But Ronaldo, both through his words and the revelation of his votes on Monday, was able to quell a situation that has lingered somewhat uncomfortably for several weeks.   

The winner of the Ballon d'Or told reporters at the award's ceremony, per Sky News:

"

Madrid fans are always the same, they are very intense, they show what they feel, they aren't liars.

But I think the things with Gaz [Gareth Bale] are normal because they know that Gaz is a very important player for us, a key player.

What happened on Saturday is in the past. Sometimes I make mistakes too, so it's part of the business, part of football. I think the people will be nice with him and they should be nice with him.

"

For those connected to Real Madrid, and particularly for those who've taken an interest in his dynamic with Bale, Ronaldo's words will have been soothing. An acknowledgment of appreciation for those around him that goes against the perception of him held by some that he's a difficult egotist. 

His votes had the same effect; though likely to be seen as narrow and conforming to the award's popularity feel to those outside the club, to Real Madrid, his votes stood as silent recognition of Los Blancos' collective strength and the foundation others help Ronaldo to lay. It was an insight into what and who he attributes the club's recent success to. 

The fact that the Ballon d'Or winner's three choices were all players who've not only been at the centre of intense criticism during their time at Real Madrid but have also consistently responded to it, won't have been lost on anyone at the Bernabeu. 

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