Cristiano Ronaldo Predicts Lionel Messi Will Win Ballon D'Or Award

Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he's having the best season of his career, but he doesn't think he'll get recognized for it properly.

Ronaldo was a guest on The Jonathan Ross Show and said he doesn't think he'll win the Ballon d'Or this year. Instead, he thinks his rival Lionel Messi will win the prestigious award, per the Guardian:

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To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes. You win competitions, you win the Champions League you win the league in terms of individual. I did probably the best season of my career which is good and I was the highest scorer in Europe [but] it’s all about votes, it’s difficult and to be honest I’m not very worried about that because as I said many times, I never thought I’d win three times to be honest.

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The interview will air on Saturday.

Even if it comes down to a popularity contest, though, Ronaldo is as high on the list as Messi. Meanwhile, the FC Barcelona star has been recovering from a serious knee injury that will keep him out of El Clasico on Nov. 21, per the Mirror's Aaron Flanagan.

Unless Messi storms back from his injury to finish the season strong and wow the voters, it's tough to see Ronaldo not winning the Ballon d'Or for the third time. Ronaldo has scored 18 goals this year in all forms of competition to go along with two assists, per WhoScored.com.