Chat212 Sportsmail's team puts forward their arguments...
- But will Real superstar turn up to ceremony? For the prestigious Ballon d'Or award after the The FIFA chief claimed the Real Madrid star 'spends more time at the hairdresser' when asked to compare him with Messi, though the FIFA chief did later apologise.
Chat212 Sportsmail's Report..
Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or award over Lionel Messi following the surprise decision to extend the voting deadline.
Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as the favourite to win FIFA's prestigious Ballon d'Or award over rival Lionel Messi following the surprise decision to extend the voting deadline.
But it is understood that Ronaldo, who enhanced his case with his superb hat-trick in Portugal's World Cup play-off win over Sweden on Tuesday night, could boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich on January 13 in protest at comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
The FIFA chief claimed the Real Madrid star 'spends more time at the hairdresser' when asked to compare him with Messi, though the FIFA chief did later apologise.
The move to put the voting deadline back to Novmber 29 and allow previous votes to be recast has been taken as a result of a 'low turnout of votes'.
