Cristiano Ronaldo says he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or for a sixth time, over rivals including Antoine Griezmann, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo and Messi have won the award five times each over the last decade, but the duo face stronger competition in 2018 than for many years.
Griezmann and Mbappe have a World Cup win on their records, while Modric claimed the Golden Ball at Russia 2018 for his star performances in Croatia’s run to the final.
Ronaldo helped fire Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League crown before joining Juventus and he is in no doubt he should win the Ballon d’Or again.
“I already know, in my heart, that I am one of the best players in history. Of course I want to win, this sixth Ballon d’Or!
“It would be a lie to tell you the opposite. I work for that. As I work to score goals and win games without being an obsession. The Ballon d’Or, yes, I think I deserve it.”
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo says his family are “stunned” and “very angry” as he faces a rape allegation.
American Kathryn Mayorga has accused Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Las Vegas in 2009, something the Portuguese has strenuously refuted.
German publication Der Spiegel first reported the claims, which also included the suggestion Ronaldo paid Ms Mayorga $375,000 in 2010 as part of a privacy agreement, preventing her from going public with the allegations. Ms Mayorga filed a lawsuit in an attempt to quash that agreement while Las Vegas police have re-opened an investigation.
Ronaldo’s lawyer Peter Christiansen confirmed the payment was made to Ms Mayorga, but said some documents presented as evidence had been “stolen” and “completely fabricated”.
“My son, Cristiano Jr, is too young to understand. It’s worst for my mother and my sisters. They are stunned, and at the same time very angry.
“This is the first time I have seen them in this state.”