Verona (Italy), May 28 (IANS) Former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez on Thursday said Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo does not deserve to win the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
Ronaldo picked up the 2014 prize and is expected to be in the running again this year after scoring 61 goals in all competitions.
However, Marquez said the Portuguese did not always perform for his club side this season as they failed to win La Liga or the Champions League.
“I think there are other players who have done a little more than Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or,” Marquez was quoted as saying by goal.com.
“Ronaldo has an expiration date just like everyone else. I do not know how much longer he will last but he is one of the best players in football history.”
“We have seen that Cristiano was unable to carry his team on some occasions, but that does not mean he was unimportant. He is a vital part of the Real Madrid side,” Marquez said.
The Mexican footballer, who is currently contracted to Italian side Hellas Verona, played for Barcelona from 2003 until 2007 and won two Champions League titles and four La Ligas.
Marquez also commented on Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking from Real Madrid this week.
“The pressure at a team like Real Madrid is such that big clubs like they, Barcelona, Chelsea and AC Milan cannot afford to go a year without winning anything. I think that is the reason for the dismissal of Ancelotti,” the 36-year-old concluded.