MADRID: FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique on Thursday admitted that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to win the 2017 Ballon d'Or award, given to best footballer of the season by France Football magazine since 1956.
Pique chose Ronaldo over his Barcelona clubmate Lionel Messi following the Portuguese striker's title win in La Liga and Champions League.
Messi and Ronaldo have shared nine Ballon d'Or awards between them since 2008.
"Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Champions League and La Liga, so he is the favourite. Messi is considered the best player in history and then there are other options," Pique was quoted saying by Marca newspaper.
Pique also denied having any grudges over Spanish national teammate and defender Sergio Ramos who plays for Real Madrid.
"The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is very big, Ramos defends Madrid and I, Barcelona," he said.
"When we face each other, we try to defend our colours, but when we go with the national team we fight together," Pique said.
Talking about his future aspirations after retirement, Pique mentioned he wants to become his club president.
"Someday I would like to be president of Barcelona, but that is still a long way off. I don't think about it, just to have a long career as a footballer," he said.