Cristiano Ronaldo is set to renew his rivalry with long-time rival Lionel Messi when the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d’Or is announced later.
Ronaldo has won a total of five Ballon d’Ors, including two of the last three since France Football ended its partnership with FIFA.
However, the Juventus forward missed out on the 2018 gong after it was won by his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to renew his rivalry with long-time rival Lionel Messi when the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d’Or is announced later.
Ronaldo has won a total of five Ballon d’Ors, including two of the last three since France Football ended its partnership with FIFA.
However, the Juventus forward missed out on the 2018 gong after it was won by his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.
The early favourite for this award is Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who is bidding the become the first defender to receive it since Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Van Dijk helped Liverpool lift the Champions League last season and has already taken home UEFA’s Player of the Year accolade this term.
Messi, meanwhile, was crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player in Milan a month ago.
Despite that, Ronaldo won the Scudetto at the age of 34 during the previous campaign and ran out as Juve’s top scorer with 28 goals.
He then captained Portugal to glory at the inaugural UEFA Nations League over the summer, notably bagging a hat-trick against Switzerland in the semi-finals.
The winner will be announced some time in early December.