Luis Suarez does not believe Cristiano Ronaldo’s trophy-winning exploits with Real Madrid and Portugal should result in him taking the Ballon d’Or off Lionel Messi.
Barcelona talisman Messi regained football’s biggest individual honor last year, leaving the career Ballon d’Or count against Ronaldo at 5-3 in his favor.
Messi scored 41 goals and provided 26 assists in all competitions as Barca retained La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season, but Ronaldo netted the winning penalty as Real pipped Atletico Madrid to Champions League glory, before helping Portugal to a surprise Euro 2016 triumph.
Those successes have established the former Manchester United forward as a strong favourite for this 2016 award, and Barcelona star Neymar even said last week that he expects Ronaldo to scoop the award.
But Suarez is in no doubt that his teammate Messi remains the pre-eminent performer in world football.
“It is true that [Ronaldo] won those trophies but for me there is no question that Leo is the best player in the world,” he said. “Whether or not he wins that prize he is the best player by far. He has more of an effect on the game than anyone else.
“He couldn’t win a title [the Copa America] with Argentina but he has won so many titles with Barcelona and I think that he deserves the Ballon d’Or.”
As Messi recuperates after missing a spot kick in Argentina’s Copa America final defeat against Chile on penalties and Neymar prepares for Brazil’s Olympic campaign, Suarez is the only member of Barcelona’s famous front trio in preseason training ahead of the new season.
Nevertheless, the former Liverpool favorite is unconcerned over the disruption and is aiming high once more for the forthcoming season.
“I’m training with some other teammates and guys from Barca B that I didn’t know as well,” he added. “We are preparing ourselves physically and getting ready for the season.
“I talk to Luis Enrique about the normal things that we talk about in preseason, getting ready to try and achieve our objectives for this season. At Barcelona we are going to try as always to make history and win as much as possible.”
Source: Goal.com
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