Lionel Messi has been backed by Cristiano Ronaldo to add a fifth Ballon d'Or to his collection.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has tipped Barcelona rival Lionel Messi to win a fifth Ballon d'Or in January.
Three-time winner Ronaldo and Messi are in contention for the prize at an awards ceremony in Zurich in January.
Ronaldo, however, believes the Argentina captain will win the Ballon d'Or after scoring 58 goals in all competitions as Barca claimed the treble last season by clinching La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
"To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes," Ronaldo told ITV in an interview set to be aired on Saturday.