What do you suppose the odds were that the 2015 Ballon d'Or second- and third-place finishers would both be strikers, both be Portuguese speakers, would play in the same league, defend opposite sides of the Clasico divide and be born on exactly the same day, only seven years apart? Meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar: 32 and 25 respectively but sharing Feb. 5 as their birthday.
Millions to one? I'd say that was an odds-on bet. And do you think, then, that CR7 is a good barometer for where his Brazilian opponent is now in his life and career?