In two days time, the world’s best will be honoured with the most prestigious individual trophy of them all – Ballon d’Or. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the record winners with five Ballon d’Or trophies each. As the most coveted individual trophy in the footballing world, the Ballon d’Or commands excellence and extraordinary performances for a player to be deemed worthy of holding the trophy and be exalted higher above the rest. Luka Modric won it last year, showing why the award meant so much more than just scoring goals and scoring streaks. Having lived years when the trophy barely exchanged hands, the World Cup finalist Croatian stamped his mark in the land of greats. Cristiano Ronaldo Over Lionel Messi For 2019 Ballon d'Or? Former Chelsea Boss Backs Portuguese Superstar.

While Messi is once again the overwhelming favourite to claim his sixth Ballon d’Or crown and Virgil is another hot prospect, Cristiano Ronaldo can never be ruled out. A Van Dijk victory is bound to extend the fallow period for the world’s best footballing rival pair. Arguably this generation’s greatest and among the best of all-time, Ronaldo and Messi held the trophy for 10 years, each lifting the Golden Ball five-times each. They are never out of the contention and although the odds are in favour of Argentine this time around, don’t be surprised if Ronaldo walks away with his sixth Ballon d’Or. Lionel Messi For Ballon d’Or Award 2019: 3 Reasons Why Barcelona Forward Should Win His Sixth Golden Ball.

Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018 after lifting his fifth Champions League trophy and fourth with the La Liga giants. In his time at Madrid, the Portuguese conquered Spain and Europe handing the Los Blancos three consecutive Champions League crowns before moving to Italy. From a wide wing-man, who would outrun every full-back in England, the Portuguese sensation has developed into a goal sniffing monster, killing opponents by his sheer goal presence and scoring abilities. Many predicted that his move to Italy would kill all chances of another Ballon d’Or. But with a double title in his debut season in Italy, CR7 has proved that time wouldn’t kill his legacy. Take a look at three reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo will win Ballon d’Or 2019.

Personal Stats

It doesn’t matter if your team haven’t won the Champions League or have strolled to the league title. The Ballon d’Or at the end is a trophy that is given to the best individual player of that particular year. He was always above Lionel Messi on the scoring charts during his time in Spain and although a move to Italy somehow diminished his influence on the goal charts, Ronaldo in his debut season in Italy proved why he is rated among the best players – let alone goal-scorers – of all-time. He scored 28 times in 43 appearances for Juventus across all competitions last season, which interestingly was also his debut season for the Bianconeri. That’s a tremendous return for a player who has just moved to a new league and has added pressure of being the most expensive player above 30-years of age.

Serie A title

In nine years at Spain, Ronaldo thrice finished as the highest league goal-scorer in La Liga. It, however, wasn’t the same when he moved to Serie A, where Juventus had already meandered their way to a seven successive league title. They would have perhaps clinched the eighth consecutive Serie A title even if Ronaldo hadn’t signed but the effect couldn’t be denied. In his maiden season, Ronaldo scored 21 times in 31 matches and also assisted eight times. Such was his influence that Serie A named him as their most valuable player of 2018-19 season. And in case, if you are still thinking that wasn’t enough, Ronaldo also finished as Juventus’ highest goal scorer in all competitions.

International Achievements

If ever there was one facet, where Ronaldo pips both Messi and Van Dijk in the race for the 2019 Ballon d’Or Award, it is this. Messi-led Argentina flopped in the 2019 Copa America getting knocked by rivals Brazil in the semi-finals. Their exit from the South American Championship was unceremonious with Messi even getting a three-month ban for alleging corruption in the CONMEBOL. He endured a frustrating campaign scoring just once and ending without one assist. His only goal came from the spot against Paraguay, while he assisted Aguero before being shown a straight red in the third-place playoff match.

Ronaldo, on the other, guided Portugal to a second international title by lifting the inaugural Nations League title beating Virgil Van Dijk’s Netherlands in the final to win the trophy. Although it was Gonzalo Guedes, who scored the goal that propelled Portugal to the title, it was Ronaldo’s hat-trick in the semi-final against Switzerland that sailed them to the final in the first place. He has already scored 14 international goals in 10 appearances in 2019 and is one shy of becoming the first European player to scores a century of international goals.

He finished second to Luck Modric last year with the Croat midfielder becoming the first since Kaka in 2007 to break the Ronaldo-Messi dominance on the World's most coveted individual trophy. But expect one of the two - Ronaldo and Messi - to hold the Ballon d'Or trophy again. Will it be six for Ronaldo? December 2 will tell.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 01, 2019 07:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).