The anticipation for the 2013 Ballon d’Or is at its peak, with predictions pouring in ahead of the official announcement on Monday. Even former Tottenham coach André Villas-Boas has shared his thoughts on the matter.
Despite Franck Ribéry’s impressive achievements with Bayern Munich and being named the best European player of the year, many observers seem to favor the perennial Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate. Villas-Boas is among those who believe the race for the Ballon d’Or in 2013 will once again boil down to a showdown between Messi and Ronaldo, with the Portuguese coach expressing his preference for Ronaldo.
“Cristiano has had a big impact recently; he has played more matches than Messi and, for this reason, he can win the Ballon d’Or this year,” Villas-Boas stated. He also emphasized that the general perception of Messi as the best player of all time, especially among his generation, should not influence the decision for the specific year.
Acknowledging Messi’s stature, Villas-Boas pointed out, “Looking at the year that has just passed, I would say that maybe Cristiano can get it.”
Meanwhile, it’s mentioned that Ronaldo himself is gearing up for the possibility of being named the Ballon d’Or 2013, already making preparations for the celebration behind the scenes. The excitement and speculations continue as football fans eagerly await the official announcement.
