Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player deserving of the Ballon d'Or, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti reiterated on Friday.
Asked whether Barcelona forward Lionel Messi would be Ronaldo's chief competitor for the FIFA top honour, Ancelotti dismissed the question and said that Ronaldo's toughest rival would be "a German player."
Messi currently leads Ronaldo in the race to break Raul's Champions League goal-scoring record. The Argentine striker tied Raul with his 71st goal this week vs. Ajax.
"Cristiano's results speak clearly," Ancelotti said when asked whether Messi would nudge out the Blancos talisman. "The only player near to Cristiano is a German player, because he has won the World Cup but I don't think there are any other players who are close."
Ancelotti also said he agreed with recent comments made by Real Madrid Florentino Perez, calling Ronaldo the heir to Alfredo Di Stefano's throne.
"I think that is true because Cristiano has this image and is a very important complement to Real Madrid," Ancelotti said. "Everyone knows what Di Stefano represented to this club and for Cristiano to aspire to that, well it is a great motivator for the future. I think he deserves it."
Last week, Ancelotti admonished FIFA president Sepp Blatter for comments Blatter made suggesting that Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should have won the Golden Ball prize awarded to Lionel Messi as FIFA's best player of the tournament at last summer's World Cup.
The comment was interpreted with implications that Blatter was suggesting that Neuer now deserves to win the 2014 Ballon d'Or award, which FIFA also co-organises, and which current holder Ronaldo is hot favourite to retain.
Ancelotti told a news conference last week that Blatter was always making surprise statements, but it was clear that his player's goalscoring exploits, as well as contributions to last season's Champions League and Copa del Rey victories, left no room for debate.
"It always surprises me what he [Blatter] does, but what are we going to do?" Ancelotti said. "It is impossible to shut up the FIFA president. This is a matter which is always talked about. It is Cristiano's year, he is scoring goals and winning important trophies, so there is no doubt that he is the Ballon d'Or. So [Blatter's] words do not make much sense."