Barcelona superstar Neymar has surprisingly backed Cristiano Ronaldo over team-mate Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or, following a brilliant year that included the Portuguese forward winning both the Champions League and Euro 2016.
Neymar, who was shortlisted alongside Messi and Ronaldo last year for the prestigious individual award, believes Ronaldo's outstanding trophy-laden few months has pushed him ahead of the Argentinian in the reckoning.
Ronaldo scored 51 times in 48 appearances for Madrid last season - completing an astonishing feat in reaching the 50-goal mark in each of the last six seasons - leading the club to a second Champions League title in three years at the expense of rivals Atletico Madrid, before captaining Portugal to their first-ever major tournament honours with a 1-0 win over France in the final.
Ronaldo, of course, was injured for the vast majority of the final, but scored three goals en route to meeting the hosts. Ronaldo had to settle for a runners-up spot in the Ballon d'Or last season to Messi, but Neymar has backed the 31-year-old to clinch his fourth success.
"Winning titles plays a big role in the race for the Ballon d'Or," Neymar told Lance!.
"Ronaldo won the Champions League and now Euro 2016 as well. So I reckon he is in a good position. Plus Ronaldo is a great player. I have no qualms in saying that."
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