2016 Ballon D’Or: Ronaldo is not a worthy winner – Xavi

The Portuguese had a remarkable year as he won the UEFA Champions League and 2016 European Championship in France while also becoming the Los Blancos all-time topscorer in October.

The 31-year-old beat closest rivalry Lionel Messi to a distant second position but Xavi feels that wasn’t the right call.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not deserve to win the Ballon d'Or despite his trophy success in 2016, according to Barcelona legend Xavi.

"They counted the major trophies but there are other years in which they didn't use that to award the best player in the world," he told TV3.

"Leo Messi is the best despite the trophies that someone else might have won."

Xavi remarked in September that Messi is the best player in the world "for anyone who likes football" and the comments did not go down well with Ronaldo.

The former Manchester United forward responded by saying: "Everyone knows that anyone who wants to make the front pages has to talk about me. Xavi has not won a single Ballon d'Or. I have won three."

Ronaldo will feature for Real Madrid on Thursday in their Club World Cup semi-final against America.