Al-Nassr talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is perhaps one of the best candidates to ask any questions about reaching the top of any sport.
Ronaldo is one of, if not the greatest footballer of all time and during his career, he won silverware at several different clubs as well as for the Portuguese national team.
The 39-year-old also won five Ballon d’Or trophies during his illustrious career.
Ronaldo won the prestigious award in 2008 at Manchester United and four other times in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 at Real Madrid.
As a result, the Portuguese superstar knows exactly what it takes to become the best player in the world.
Not only due to Ronaldo’s quality and high standards as a player but because he has played across different eras of the sport.
Ronaldo makes Ballon d’Or prediction about Man City superstar
With that being the case, the former Real Madrid winger must be able to assess more than most what it takes for a player to be in contention for the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo also played with and against players who won the award — from Luka Modric to Lionel Messi.
Rio Ferdinand quizzed his former Manchester United teammate on the UR: Cristiano YouTube channel about his thoughts on Kylian Mbappe joining Real Madrid.
Ronaldo could dwell on his experience from leaving Old Trafford in 2009 to signing for arguably the biggest club in the world.
The veteran claimed that Mbappe can contend for and win the Ballon d’Or for years to come.
However, Ronaldo also named Erling Haaland as a player who could do the same as the Frenchman.
“He [Kylian Mbappe] can be the next Golden Ball [Ballon d’Or winner] for the next years, him, probably [Erling] Haaland, [Jude] Bellingham, Lamine [Yamal], I think it’s this new generation, they have a lot of potential.”
Ian Wright compared Haaland to Ronaldo in terms of how he is “operating off the field.”
Erling Haaland will appreciate the Cristiano Ronaldo claim
It is hard to disagree with Ronaldo as Haaland continues to set outrageous standards for himself season after season.
The £375,000-a-week man will appreciate the five-time Champions League winner’s claim.
Even if Haaland fully believes he will win the Ballon d’Or one day, for a legend of the game like Ronaldo to agree with such a sentiment must be incredible to hear for the star striker.
The Norwegian should use the prolific goalscorer’s words as motivation to push for the award in years to come.
Like Ronaldo stated, Haaland can compete with the likes of Mbappe, Bellingham and Yamal amongst others to potentially be in contention to win the Ballon d’Or.
The Portuguese skipper rightly stated that the 24-year-old has a “lot of potential.”
