The former Netherlands international believes that the Portuguese is a product of hard work whereas his great rival is completely unique

Edgar Davids has described Lionel Messi as "an anomaly" and Cristiano Ronaldo as "just an athlete", after tipping the Argentina star to land the 2015 Ballon d'Or.

On Monday, it was announced that the pair had been shortlisted for the award alongside Messi's Barcelona team-mate Neymar.

Messi and Ronaldo have won every Ballon d'Or since 2007 and Davids fully expects the diminutive No.10 to increase his lead over his Real Madrid rival to five wins to three when the victor is revealed on January 11.