Although the Ballon d’Or winner will not be announced anytime soon, the hype has begun over which player will win the coveted award.
Lionel Messi is the current holder, having beaten Cristiano Ronaldo to the award at the beginning of 2016. However, the Portuguese ace is now the front-runner to clinch the prize.
Speaking an Aspire4Sports event, Barca legend and former team-mate to La Pulga gave his thoughts on who will most likely win the award.
Surprisingly, the man who publicly claimed Cristiano is inferior to Leo has now tipped the Portuguese attacker to win.
"Cristiano has the numbers to win this year's Ballon d'Or, having won the Champions League and the Euros," the Spanish playmaker said, as per Goal.
"But I also think that it'll be very competitive, because Messi will be there, of course."
Of course, many can point out that the World Cup winner merely said Cristiano is favorite to win, not that he is deserves the title ahead of the five-time recipient.
The 31-year-old failed at winning La Liga with Real Madrid, but made up for that shortcoming in fashion by scoring the winning penalty kick in the Champions League final.
He then followed that up by bringing the Euro 2016 title to Portugal after beating France in extra-time, albeit Cristiano’s contribution was overshadowed by Antoine Griezmann’s goalscoring form.
Atletico Madrid’s star Frenchman is one man who could pose a threat to Ronaldo, as well as Luis Suarez of Barcelona, having won the Pichichi last season.
