Brazil legend Ronaldo has backed Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or for a fifth straight year.

The Argentine has slipped to third-favourite to win the Fifa accolade with the bookies, behind Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.

But the former Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu striker suggested Messi can take home the award once again and tipped the Argentine to come back strong from his current injury, which has seen him sidelined for the remainder of 2013.

"I think Messi will win the Ballon d'Or again," Ronaldo is quoted as saying by Marca.

"Messi has spent the last five years playing so many matches and he is the biggest star in world football. Now, this injury isn't serious, but maybe resting will allow him to recharge his batteries."

Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or twice in his career - for his performances in 1997 and in 2002.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1785/fifa-ballon-dor/2013/12/04/4453336/ronaldo-i-think-messi-will-win-ballon-dor

If one considers the submission of Ronaldo very well, he is definitely not far from the truth, Messi is in a different class, many times C. Ronaldo sympathizers (no longer fans now) are damn too emotional when it comes to the FIFA Ballon D'Or! Despite all the noise about Ronaldo's sudden burst at goals from August till date, a look at the intimidating records of Messi below when presented with the same opportunity tells a lot:

91 Messi world record (2012)
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67 C. Ronaldo 2013
66

After the Blatter incident, Ronaldo played 8 matches, scored 16 goals including 3 hattricks and 1 brace.Suddenly Ronaldo fans saying this is the best performance ever.

From 15th February 2012 to 25th March 2012 Messi played 8 matches, scored 21 goals including 2 super hattricks,2 hattricks and 1 brace.Nobody bated an eyelid.
This is the class of Messi