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Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes that Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo shouldn’t feature in the top three to win the Ballon d’Or this year. Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi and Frank Ribery to win the prestigious award at the start of this year, after having a stellar season both in club football and international football. The former Manchester United forward was a runner-up in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
When he was asked about his choices for the top prize, the 34-year-old named fellow teammates at Nou Camp - Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano and Germany’s 2014 World cup winning captain Phillip Lahm as his picks.
When asked, “If you had been Spain captain who would you have voted for the Ballon d’Or?” Xavi replied, “First Leo (Lionel Messi). Second (Philipp) Lahm and third (Javier) Mascherano.”
Ronaldo didn't have the greatest of World Cups: Xavi
When he was informed that another of his teammates at the club, Neymar had also opted to go for Lahm in place of Ronaldo, Xavi said that Ronaldo’s performance in the World Cup wasn’t as good as everyone expected it to be.
“The thing is, Cristiano didn’t do much in the World Cup and I think that in the year of the World Cup that defines much of the season,” he said.
Ronaldo had a very good World Cup qualifying campaign for Portugal, scoring 8 goals, but managed to score just a solitary goal in his side’s 2-1 win over Ghana in the group stages of the tournament. He has, however, scored 32 goals in 25 appearances for Los Blancos across all competitions, this season.
Commenting on star forward Lionel Messi playing a more defensive role this season, Xavi said that the Argentian was happy at the club and added that he was at the top of his game this season.
“I see a happy Messi. Look, he is the best player in the world and we have to live with these responses. But I see him happy and content.
“Very different to last year when he suffered that beastly injury that kept him off the field of play for two months, also with the World Cup on the horizon, it wasn’t an easy year for anybody.
“But this year he’s at the top, we are really enjoying it with him on the pitch. He’s performing like the best Messi,” the midfielder said.
