Ronaldo backs Messi, Jose for FIFA awards
7 Nov 2012 6:38 AM IST
Brazilian legend Ronaldo says he would nominate Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award if he could vote.
Ronaldo, a three-time winner of the FIFA World Player of Year award, which merged with European Football’s Ballon d’Or in 2010, said the Argentinian striker deserved to win ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘It’ s still a battle between those two - Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,’ he said Monday. ‘Messi would get my vote because, in addition to being decisive, scoring loads of goals and winning trophies, he’s able to bring a special and different kind of magic to football.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo is a very technical, very skillful and very pragmatic player, but Messi continues to produce the unexpected on a regular basis.’
The 36-year-old said he would vote for Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho as coach of the year. ‘He is the coach I’d vote for because it’s not easy to handle 25 players so well on a daily basis,’ Ronaldo said.
‘He’d get my vote for his tactical organisation, his planning and his training methods.’
23 players have been shortlisted for the award as the 2012 winners will be announced in Zurich on January 7.
Ronaldo, a three-time winner of the FIFA World Player of Year award, which merged with European Football’s Ballon d’Or in 2010, said the Argentinian striker deserved to win ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘It’ s still a battle between those two - Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,’ he said Monday. ‘Messi would get my vote because, in addition to being decisive, scoring loads of goals and winning trophies, he’s able to bring a special and different kind of magic to football.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo is a very technical, very skillful and very pragmatic player, but Messi continues to produce the unexpected on a regular basis.’
The 36-year-old said he would vote for Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho as coach of the year. ‘He is the coach I’d vote for because it’s not easy to handle 25 players so well on a daily basis,’ Ronaldo said.
‘He’d get my vote for his tactical organisation, his planning and his training methods.’
23 players have been shortlisted for the award as the 2012 winners will be announced in Zurich on January 7.
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