Disgrace if Ronaldo doesn't win Ballon d'Or, says Coentrao

The left-back has voiced his support for his compatriot, while hitting out at those who have suggested a German should win the award

Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao feels it would be a disgrace if Cristiano Ronaldo does not win the Fifa Ballon d'Or this year.

The Portugal captain is the favourite to win the prestigious individual award, but he faces stiff competition from players such as Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben and World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller.

A number of high-profile names - including Uefa president Michel Platini - have recently argued that a Germany international deserves the trophy most, but Coentrao feels Ronaldo is the only real option to take home the Ballon d'Or come January.

"Anyone can see it would be an utter disgrace if Cristiano didn’t receive the Ballon d’Or, which is an individual award, not for a team," the defender told A Bola. "There has never been a bigger difference between the best in the world and the number two.

"His Champions League record is incredible record and people also need to take into account the mountain of goals he’s scored this season already. He keeps on putting in amazing performances without ever tiring.

"As our coach said recently, let’s talk about next year’s Ballon d’Or, because there’s no point talking about this year’s now; it can only go to Cristiano. In 2014, it’s not hard to recognise that Cristiano was clearly the best in the world."

Coentrao then went on to hit out at those who have claimed a Germany international deserves the award more than Ronaldo.

"Hearing what some people, who hold jobs of enormous responsibility, are saying, they appear to be declarations designed to influence the decision. And that for me is, at a minimum, ridiculous.

"Holding the jobs they do and with the responsibilities they have, for these executives to be carrying out the campaign they appear to be, it just puts them in a bad light. No matter how much campaigning they do, they’ll never change what the whole world has seen."