Ferguson: Cristiano Ronaldo the Best Player of his Generation (Bet on Ballon d’Or 2016)

Former Manchester United boss Ferguson has hailed the Portuguese captain as the “special footballer” of his generation. (Bet on Ballon d’Or 2016!)

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“He has an incredible desire for football, Cristiano is looking forward to each workout,” said Ferguson about the three-time Ballon d’Or winner. “He always wants to be better, to win. He especially loves these big games. During my time at Manchester United, Cristiano was the players who developed the most. Through much hard work.”

The former Man United manager oversaw Ronaldo’s development at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, during which time he transformed the Portuguese from an ineffective and flashy youngster into a world-class player that now nets 50 goals on average per season. Ronaldo’s peak at Manchester United came in the 2007-08 season when he scored a whopping 31 goals in the Premier League and 42 overall, but more importantly that was the year they sealed the Champions League and the second of three back-back domestic titles.

“He constantly worked on his shooting technique, with the right, left, his heading ability, his bounce,” said the 74-year-old. “His performance improvement is incredible. And what is remarkable, today’s football is so athletic, so fast.”

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After spending nearly 40 years in football management (27 years alone with Man United) Ferguson witnessed the developments of countless players and the reigns of some as top stars in the game. But unlike most top players that normally have only a few great seasons in them at the pinnacle of football, Ronaldo has managed to maintain his high-level for over a decade.

“Usually top players can only play for about five or six years at the highest level, then it’s over. Cristiano has been doing this for over 10 years. That makes him so exceptional. Every generation has its special footballer, Cristiano is currently.”

Ferguson and Ronaldo enjoyed a fruitful relationship at Manchester United
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Ronaldo scored 3 goals in Euro 2016 as Portugal reached the final for the first time in 12 years, however he was taken off early in the last game against France following a rash tackle from Dimitri Payet. Nonetheless, his dedication to the team was on full display as he assisted national team boss Fernando Santos in vigorously managing A Selecao from the sidelines. After Portugal were crowned champions of the Euros, Ronaldo instantly became the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or.

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Had France won the tournament, Antoine Griezmann would have undoubtedly been the main contender for the Ballon d’Or, thanks to his impressive exploits that saw him score 6 goals during the Euros that led France to the final. But before even representing France at Euro 2016, he performed brilliantly at club level for Atletico Madrid the entire 2015-16 campaign during which he found the back of the net a whopping 32 times across all competitions.

Before facing one another in the final at Stade de France last Sunday, Ronaldo and Griezmann also went head to head in the Champions League final at San Siro, which was a repeat of the 2014 final that saw Real Madrid clinch its long-awaited La Decima. Atletico were unable to revenge themselves at San Siro from the loss suffered two years prior, as Los Blancos lifted their 11th European title. It is standard for a Champions League winner to collect the Golden Ball, however this year that player’s chances are doubled considering he – Ronaldo – also won the European Championship.

Ronaldo is the favourite for the Ballon d’Or 1.16 (4/25), while Barcelona’s Lionel Messi – who finished runner-up with Argentina at Copa America – is the second favourite for the prestigious accolade 5.50 (9/2), per online sportsbook Paddy Power.

After missing out on claiming two trophies in the finals of both the Champions League and Euro 2016, Griezmann is out of favour with odds of 6.00 (5/1). Barcelona’s fearsome striker Luis Suarez – who notched an impressive 59 goals across all competitions last season – is behind the Frenchman on the odds chart 6.50 (11/2).

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