Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are expected to have another close race for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or, but Wayne Rooney and Carlo Ancelotti believes that the Real Madrid superstar will win the prestigious award convincingly.
Ronaldo has been on a tear recently both in the UEFA Champions League and Spanish La Liga. Based on what he is witnessing this season, Rooney believes that Ronaldo will be the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner for the second straight year.
"I think so," Rooney said when asked if Ronaldo will take the award again this year. "He's had an incredible two or three years and I think he has certainly overtaken Lionel Messi now as the best player in the world. I'm sure it'll be difficult to give it to anyone else."
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is not in a good position to decide because he will clearly favor his own player, but the veteran manager reiterated that Ronaldo's performance is too good to be snubbed.
Ancelotti said in an interview with ESPN FC that Messi is not even close to Ronaldo in the race, pointing out that the Portugal international's biggest rival for the award is a "German" player after Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
"Cristiano's results speak clearly," Ancelotti said of Ronaldo, who helped his team win the Champions League last season. "The only player near to Cristiano is a German player, because he has won the World Cup but I don't think there are any other players who are close."
Ancelotti also added that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was right when he called Ronaldo as the heir to Alfredo Di Stefano, saying that the superstar's performance this year is a clear proof.
"I think that is true because Cristiano has this image and is a very important complement to Real Madrid," Ancelotti said. "Everyone knows what Di Stefano represented to this club and for Cristiano to aspire to that, well it is a great motivator for the future. I think he deserves it."
Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or award in 2008 and 2013, has already tallied 22 goals and four assists in all competitions for Real Madrid this season. In nine league appearances, the 29-year-old has already netted 17 goals to go along with three assists.
