Futre backs Ronaldo to win Ballon d`O
Sports Desk
banglanews24.com/goal
Madrid: Former Portugal international Paulo Futre believes that Cristiano Ronaldo would be a worthy winner of the FIFA Ballon d`Or award.
Ronaldo is believed to be leading the race for the best player of the year award after scoring a personal record of 60 goals in all club competitions as Real Madrid lifted its first Liga crown since 2008.
He has also been in impressive form at Euro 2012, scoring three goals in the Seleccao`s last two matches, and Futre thinks that Ronaldo`s performances in Poland and Ukraine have eliminated all doubts about who should win the Ballon d`Or.
"After his goal against Czech Republic, you have to give the Ballon d`Or to him now," Futre told RNE. "He has done more than Lionel Messi, he has broken the balance at the Euros.
"If he wins the Euros, he will become the best player in the history of Portuguese football."
For the 46-year-old, though, Ronaldo is not the only Portugal player who has been shining at the European Championship.
"Pepe is one of the leaders in the Seleccao, he is very focused and he is already singing the national anthem, which is something that the fans really like," Futre explained.
"Fabio Coentrao has had to withstand a lot of pressure at Real Madrid because of his price and the criticism he has suffered, but right now we are watching the great version of him, of the player who shone at Benfica."
Questioned about Portugal`s semifinal clash against Spain at Euro 2012, Futre thinks that it will be a close match and admitted to being surprised with Vicente del Bosque`s decision to field a starting XI without a recognized striker in two of La Roja`s matches in the tournament.
"Spain won the World Cup and the Euros with one striker and now they are playing without one," he added.
"Why? That is the big question. But why change when that system has worked so well?
"There are no favorites for Wednesday`s match. Portugal have the best player in the world. The match at the World Cup 2010 was very even, and this one will be very even, too.
"Spain will have possession of the ball, but Portugal will have chances to score."
BDST: 1458 HRS, June 26, 2012
Edited by
Chanchal Ghosh, Newsroom Editor