Paul Pogba Endorses Cristiano Ronaldo for 2016 Ballon d'Or

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has backed Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or.

Per Marca, the Frenchman hailed Ronaldo's achievement of winning the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Euro 2016 in the same year, while also reserving praise for compatriot Antoine Griezmann.

At the ESPY awards, he said: "I'd give the Ballon d'Or to Ronaldo, he won the Champions League and the European Championship. I like both [Ronaldo and Lionel Messi], but [Griezmann] has also had a wonderful year."

As Marca noted, the midfielder's future has also been the subject of speculation in recent months, but "when asked which he would choose if he had to take a Juventus, Manchester United or Real Madrid shirt home," he replied: "I'll take three."

After being crowned as a European champion both at club level and on the international stage, it seems as though Ronaldo is in the driving seat to pick up his fourth Ballon d'Or in January ahead of Messi, who helped fire Barcelona to victory in La Liga but suffered heartbreak once again with Argentina in the Copa America Centenario.

As for Griezmann, he enjoyed a phenomenal season with Atletico Madrid as he netted 32 goals, while at the European Championship, he picked up the Golden Boot thanks to his tally of six strikes. Like Ronaldo, he contested both the Champions League and Euro finals, but unlike the Real Madrid man, he lost both.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes the gong will be Ronaldo's, while football writer Miguel Delaney pointed out the role the 31-year-old played in the Euro 2016 final despite being injured:

Winning both tournaments in the same year is a rare and impressive achievement, as OptaPaolo revealed:

It has even been suggested Ronaldo's international success is a "decisive blow" in the perennial debate as to whether he or Messi is the better player, per BBC Sport:

Delaney is rightfully unconvinced:

There were a multitude of factors at play in both cases when it comes to the players' respective international careers, and to judge either solely on that does neither of them justice.

Talk of who will win the award also seems premature given how long there is left of 2016, though with no more major silverware to be won, it's understandable.

Indeed, it seems as though Ronaldo is the more likely victor than Messi or Griezmann—expect the Portuguese to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or.