Cristiano Ronaldo looks ready to seal his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his old opponent Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of world's best footballer.
It will be the ideal consummation of another tremendous year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and after that drove Portugal to their first significant title at Euro 2016 — but he went off early harmed and in tears in the win over France.
As has been the situation for just about 10 years now, the 31-year-old's fundamental opponent will be his adversary Messi — however the Barcelona and Argentine maestro has had by his own particular elevated gauges a not exactly stellar year for club and nation with the top prizes escaping him on both fronts.
Never one to play down his accomplishments, Ronaldo was seen midweek in preparing having colored his hair gold in foresight.
It will be Ronaldo's fourth Ballon d'Or crown, one not as much as a year ago's champ Messi.
"For me there is no open deliberation. The Ballon will be for him," Real Madrid mentor Zinedine Zidane said after his charm's cap trap saw off Atletico Madrid a month ago to support Real's mastery in La Liga.
"He demonstrated it last season and he indicates it over and over. We expect a great deal of him however he remains above everybody."
Notwithstanding such gushing acclaim Ronaldo, rested at the end of the week in front of the Club World Cup in Japan, has had some negative features — not slightest relating to allegations of expense avoidance.
Denying any wrongdoing, he reacted by distributing his budgetary records on Thursday, demonstrating a year ago he earned a guard 227 million euros ($240 million).
"You trust I am stressed? He who owes nothing, fears nothing," Ronaldo told supporter RTP.
Ronaldo first won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 after Premier League and Champions League triumphs with Manchester United.
In any case, it was just in 2013 that he included his second — Messi had hoarded it before then — and Ronaldo made it a cap trap the next year.
The principal Ballon d'Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.
This year points the end of six years of joint honors by authors France Football and FIFA, which will return to giving a "Best" award of its own on January 9 to both male and female players.
The Ballon d'Or will from now on be chosen by a vote of 173 columnists while national group chiefs and directors will no longer have a say.
Monday's prize will be declared at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Monday in Paris, however Ronaldo is not anticipated that would be available as a result of the Club World Cup.
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