Cristiano Ronaldo names his four Ballon d'Or rivals

Cristiano Ronaldo has named his four rivals ahead of the 2017 Ballon d’Or.

The 32-year-old pipped Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to last year’s honour after lifting the Champions League and European Championships with his club and country.

And after another stellar year at Real, which saw Ronaldo secure the second La Liga title of his career as well as a third Champions League trophy with the Spanish side, the Portuguese looks set to be awarded his fifth Ballon d’Or – but admits he faces stiff competition.

"Of course it is always going to be a fight between us," he recently told ESPN.

"I'm there along with [Lionel] Messi, Neymar, [Robert] Lewandowski and [Gonzalo] Higuain.

"That kind of fighting and competition is healthy and that is what motivates me, being better than them year after year.

"The best always try to compete with the best, it keeps you sharp. You know you can never lose focus because others will overtake you."